Health complaints related to pesticide stored at a public health clinic

Employees at a health center in Georgia were concerned that symptoms experi enced by some employees were related to pesticide exposure at the center. M alathion and DDT, used for mosquito control from 1969 to 1981, had been sto red and handled at the center's first floor. We surveyed 117 (91%) of 129 e mployees to determine whether reported symptoms were associated with pestic ide exposure. We performed environment al sampling for pesticides. We analy zed serum samples for 17 chlorinated pesticides, and urine samples for mala thion. We found that 37% of the participants had reported a diagnosis of si nusitis and 24% of bronchitis since working at the health center, Frequentl y reported symptoms were eye irritation (44%) and headache (68%), DDT and m alathion were found at levels of 2.4 and 11%, respectively, in bulk samples from the loading dock of the building. Multivariate analysis of responses to the questionnaire showed that the perception of odors, inadequate air ho w, and length of employment were significantly associated with the employee s' health complaints. Pesticide concentrations in employees' serum and urin e samples were not associated with any health complaint, The health complai nts reported by the employees at the health center were precipitated by bot h environmental and psychological factors. The epidemiology and laboratory components of this study highlight the importance of obtaining biological m easurements in episodes of perceived environmental exposure.