Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance in Michigan: 2017–18

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Michigan State University
• Description:
  Michigan has been conducting surveillance for acute work-related pesticide illnesses and injuries since 2001. In 2006 data on non-occupational cases were added. The Public Health Code grants Michigan the authority to do public health surveillance for work-related conditions (PA 368 of 1978, Part 56, as amended) and chemical poisoning (R325.71-R325.75). This is the fourteenth report on pesticide-related illnesses and injuries in Michigan (2001-03, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015-16, 2017-18) including 18 years of data. From 2001 through 2018 there were 1,311 confirmed cases of occupational pesticide-related illnesses or injuries. Eighty-four of those confirmed cases were reported in 2017, and 46 were reported in 2018. The number of reported cases peaked in 2008. Disinfectants continued to be the cause of almost half of all the confirmed occupational cases (48 percent from 2001-2018) and were the cause of 47 percent of confirmed occupational cases in 2017-18. It is likely that some of these cases would not have occurred if the disinfectants had been used only in situations where their use was recommended. Where activity of the exposed person was known, 47 percent of confirmed occupational cases were exposed to pesticides inadvertently while doing their regular work that did not involve applying pesticides. The most common contributing factor for confirmed occupational cases was a spill or splash of liquid or dust. The most common occupation was cleaning/ housekeeping/janitorial, comprising 15 percent of the confirmed cases in 2017-18. In addition, 11 percent were pest control operators, and 10 percent were healthcare workers. From 2006 through 2018, there were 2,581 confirmed cases of non-occupational pesticide-related illnesses or injuries. One hundred forty of those confirmed cases were reported in 2017 and 111 were reported in 2018. In 2017-18, disinfectants accounted for 34 percent of confirmed non-occupational cases. Where activity of the exposed person was known, 59 percent of confirmed non-occupational cases were involved in applying the pesticide themselves. 'Bystander' exposure was also important, with 41 percent exposed inadvertently while doing normal activities not involved in the application of pesticides. One event was reported to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Two events were referred to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and one to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). These events are described on page 14. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Disinfectants Hazardous Substances Insecticides Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Chemical Hazards Cleaning Compounds Occupational Health Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals Surveillance
• Publisher:
  Michigan State University
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-43
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066760
• Citation:
  East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 2020 May; :1-43
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Pesticide illness and injury surveillance in Michigan: 2017-18
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d62d196b490100fd72da7e2b453a41a0684221d697ef242467e275292ecc809012a62afd2bb7c28fdce862d9172f738afc367d1da3fa49632f77934e7ba79f40
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231023/cdc_231023_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 646.15 KB ]