Acute hazards to young children from residential pesticide exposures

Objectives. This study assessed acute hazards to young children from pestic ides toxic enough to require child-resistant packaging. Methods. The names of pesticides meeting acute toxicity criteria were ascer tained from the Environmental Protection Agency. Poison Control Center repo rts identified children younger than 6 years who were exposed to these pest icides. Toxicity category, medical outcome, sex, and age were examined. Results. A higher proportion of children with exposure to the more toxic pr oducts had serious medical outcomes. Children 2 years and younger were the predominant age group exposed. Conclusions. Protective measures-substituting less lethal pesticides, reduc ing the concentration of the active ingredients, and improving packaging an d storage-are recommended.