Patterns of Use Knowledge and Perception of Household Pesticides Among Residents of Oakland s Fruitvale District Margaret Kray Abstract Recent studies estimate that in 1995 homeowners spent nearly 2 billion on the purchase of 74 million pounds of the pesticides used in the United States Pesticides have been shown to cause severe health and neurodevelopment problems especially in children Pesticide use is correlated with low income and poorly maintained housing Furthermore pesticides purchased and applied by consumers pose a problem in that they are the same chemicals used by trained professionals yet there is no way to monitor that consumers are using them properly This study examined patterns of use knowledge and perception of pesticides among residents of Oakland s Fruitvale District a low income largely Latino community Results indicate that the majority of homes in Fruitvale use pesticides primarily to control for ants and cockroaches Frequency of use is strongly correlated with immigrant status Results also indicate that immigrant status is related to education level and awareness of pesticides These results indicate that there is a serious need for better community based education regarding proper handling of and alternatives to pesticides and their potential health hazards Introduction Studies estimate that in 1995 homeowners spent nearly 2 billion on the purchase of 74 million pounds of the pesticides used in the United States Landrigan et al 1999 These pesticides can then accumulate in carpet on hard surfaces and on children s toys Pesticides used residentially pose a problem in that they are the same pesticides used by trained professionals Consumers however have no training in proper pesticide use or handling and therefore greatly increase their risk of exposure by improper handling Gurunathan et al 1998 O Malley 1997 cites the three most common exposure situations of consumers to be accidents spills and ingestion by small children at floor level Van Veen et al 2001 observe that consumers use pesticides in ways never intended or anticipated often using products without regard to the label van Veen et al 2001 Since residential exposure assessment is at such an early stage in its development there is a serious need for data on residential usage of pesticides Powell 2001 The most commonly used residential pesticides found in over the counter ant and roach killers are chlorpyrifos and pyrethroids Heaudorf et al 2001 Chlorpyrifos is a broad spectrum organophosphate insecticide and is moderately toxic to humans Organophospahtes have been shown to inhibit enzyme catalyzed breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which results in overstimulation of certain parts of the nervous system Chlorpyrifos also has been shown to cause irritation of the skin and upper respiratory tract higher rates of antibiotic sensitivity and autoimmune system disorders Voccia et al 1999 Pyrethroids are a semisynthetic derivative of the natural insecticides found in certain species of the chrysanthemum plant They have been shown to be of low chronic toxicity however acute poisonings in humans do occur Exposure can cause asthmatic breathing sneezing headaches nausea incoordination convulsions burning and stinging Extension Toxicology Network 1996 Mammals can avoid pyrethroid poisoning by ester hydrolysis however the enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis are inhibited by organophosphates Hence the use of chlorpyrifos actually enhances the toxicity of pyrethroids Ray et al 2000 This is an important point since most toxicity studies only analyze one chemical at a time In reality consumers are exposed to both chemicals because both pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos are active ingredients in the typical ant and roach killer This study focuses on the use knowledge and perception of pesticides in Fruitvale a primarily Latino low income community in the East Bay Studies indicate that inner city children tend to be at a higher risk of pesticide exposure than children living in higher income housing possibly as a result of living in substandard housing with more pests Landrigan et al 1999 What consumers know and how they perceive pesticides is also an important area of study because knowledge and perception can motivate how pesticides are used However there is limited previous research regarding consumers knowledge and perception of pesticides This information is important to future studies and education programs regarding household pesticide exposure Studies indicate that race and class are important determinants of environmental exposure and health effects Brown 1994 Recent studies indicate that increases in pediatric asthma and other illnesses are most evident in urban communities and rates are highest among Black and Latino children Landrigan et al 1998 According to the report prepared by the council of economic advisors for former President Clinton s initiative on race Black and Latino households tend to report more problems in their neighborhoods including house deterioration and litter The report also states that there are serious gaps in quality of life and health among racial groups which can be accounted for by differences in educational opportunities Council of Economic Advisors 1998 Detailed information regarding inner city children s exposure to pesticides is extremely limited Landrigan and colleagues stress the need for our society to adopt new approaches that complement and build on risk assessment as well as programs for reduction of pesticide use Landrigan et al 1999 Cohen Hubal and colleagues 2000 reiterate the need for identification of pesticides primarily used in the home and patterns of pesticide use Cohen Hubal et al 2000 Landrigan and colleagues 1998 and the Children s Environmental Health Network describe the seven specific issues regarding children s environmental health that need to be researched further in order to understand and eliminate pediatric diseases Of these issues they stress the need to assess the role of indoor air pollutants such as pesticides in exacerbating respiratory disease They also stress the need for population based studies of children living in the innercities and in affluent environments in order to assess the interactions among disease and environmental exposures The Children s Environmental Health Network also urges development of more child centered research involving risk assessment education and community empowerment with the ultimate aim of informing
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