UK childhood exposures to pesticides 2004-7: a toxbase toxicovigilance study

Richard D Adams ^1*, David Lupton ¹, Alison M Good ¹ and David Nicholas Bateman ¹

¹ NPIS Edinburgh, United Kingdom

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: richard.d.adams{at}luht.scot.nhs.uk.

Accepted 3 December 2008

Abstract

Objective: There are no systematic methods for toxicovigilance of non-medicinal products in the UK. This is particularly relevant for pesticides where there is significant public concern about potential adverse effects. This study describes a prospective toxicovigilance scheme based on follow-up of enquiries to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) through its on-line poisons information system TOXBASE. These enquiries reflect acute exposures and the patterns of acute illness that result.

Results: A total of 10,061 pesticide related enquiries were identified. After follow-up, data was gathered on 2364 suspected exposures of which 1162 involved children. After exclusions 1147 exposures are reported here. No deaths were reported and only 37 children were admitted to hospital. The majority were considered to have either minimal or no features (925, 80.6%). Symptoms were unknown for 38 children. Symptoms reported in the 184 symptomatic children included nausea/vomiting (58), eye irritation/pain/conjunctivitis (29), skin irritation (28), abdominal pain (24), mouth or throat irritation (18) and diarrhoea (15). Where age was recorded 60.5% (680) of children involved in suspected pesticide exposures were aged 2 years or under. The most common scenario for acute accidental exposure to pesticide in children was exposure after application (329, 28.7%) or due to poor storage (228, 19.9%).

Conclusions: Areas of potential concern identified included; storage, access to "laid" baits and pesticides for young children, and exposures as a result of medication errors with liquid head lice preparations being confused with other medicines. Use of NPIS systems provides a potentially useful method of toxicovigilance.