The effect of pesticide spraying on the rate and severity of ED asthma
Section snippets
Background
The first known outbreak of the West Nile virus in the western hemisphere occurred in the summer of 1999 in an area in northern Queens, a borough of New York City. The New York City Department of Health (DOH) received a report of an unusual cluster of cases of meningoencephalitis associated with muscle weakness suggestive of an arboviral cause. An environmental investigation was undertaken and, simultaneously, an independent investigation by veterinarians and wildlife specialists found
Insecticide toxicity
Eradication of mosquito vectors may be accomplished by spraying of insecticides, although these have known toxicity to human beings depending on the dosage and extent of exposure [4], [5]. Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide that can be absorbed through virtually any route [6]. Organophosphates exert their toxicity primarily by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, resulting in excess accumulation of acetylcholine at the synapse. Organophosphate toxicity compromises the airway via a
Rationale for study
This study seeks to ascertain adverse risks of insecticide spraying in an area that has one of the highest rates of asthma in New York City. This study seeks to answer the question “To what extent did the spraying of insecticides over the South Bronx in 1999 contribute to an increase in asthmatic symptoms as measured by ED presentations?” It was hypothesized that the spraying of insecticides was not likely to have adverse health consequences to those exposed. Indeed it was thought that there
Study area
The densely populated South Bronx area of New York City has one of the highest rates of hospitalization and death from asthma [16], [17], [18] Hospitalization for asthma among those younger than 14 years in this area was approximately 23 per 1000 in 1997. The New York State, by contrast, had about one tenth the hospital admissions for asthma in this age group (2.4 per 1000) [19]. The ED at the Lincoln Hospital sees approximately 14 500 asthma visits per year, resulting in 1500 annual hospital
Methods
A retrospective review of all pediatric and adult asthma visits and asthma hospital admissions for August and September of 1999 was undertaken. Included were all patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma from the ED. To assess the usual patterns of asthma presentations to the ED, data were also collected on all adult and pediatric asthma ED visits for August and September of 1997 and 1998. Asthma presentations to and admission rates from the adult and pediatric EDs were noted for the 11th,
Results
Fig. 1 shows asthma presentations to the adult and pediatric EDs for August and September of 1997, 1998, and 1999. The expected seasonal increase in asthma was consistent for each year. During September 1999, a total of 1318 patients presented to the Lincoln Hospital ED with a primary diagnosis of asthma exacerbation (753 or 57.1% adult patients and 565 or 42.9% pediatric patients). Of those patients, 222 (16.8%) were admitted (102 or 45.9% adult patients and 120 or 54.1% pediatric patients).
Discussion
Since the first outbreak of the West Nile virus in New York City in 1999, the virus has spread across most of the United States and has become enzootic and endemic in the central and eastern parts of the country and increasingly in the West; there have been more than 200 known deaths in the United States from this arbovirus, primarily among the elderly individuals [22]. Transmission of the West Nile virus has been found to occur through organ donation, blood transfusions, and breast feeding [23]
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Cited by (15)
Pesticide exposures and respiratory health in general populations
2017, Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)Citation Excerpt :Although lack of information on specific types of pesticide being exposed in some studies (Salam et al., 2004, Salameh et al., 2006a; S Tagiyeva et al., 2010) and few large population-based studies have been conducted (Karpati et al., 2004; O'Sullivan et al., 2005; Salam et al., 2004), findings from these studies have suggested that non-occupational or environmental pesticide exposures have the potential to induce asthma in the general populations, and children are likely among the most vulnerable groups of subjects. A couple of studies on the mosquito control program in New York City showed that spraying of malathion (an OP insecticide) and resmethrin (a pyrethrin insecticide) did not increase the visit rate of asthma at the Emergency Department during the season (rate ratio = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.80–1.07) (Karpati et al., 2004; O'Sullivan et al., 2005), indicating that low-dose seasonal exposure to environment pesticides might have limited impact on asthma morbidity, and further studies on this topic are warranted. In addition to asthma, COPD, sinusitis and bronchitis have also been linked to environmental pesticide exposures in the general population.
Future challenges for parasitology: Vector control and one health in the Americas
2013, Veterinary ParasitologyCitation Excerpt :Such approaches are still implemented, and became critically important necessary during recent West Nile virus outbreaks, but can be controversial (Macedo et al., 2010). For example, case reports link aerial spraying of insecticides to exacerbation of asthma, but epidemiologic studies have been unable to find an association (Karpati et al., 2004; O'Sullivan et al., 2005). Insecticide spraying has been a key component of the Southern Cone Initiative's efforts to reduce the incidence of T. cruzi in South America, and is thought to have been largely responsible for the success of that program to date (Reithinger et al., 2009).
Environmental exposure to pesticides and respiratory health
2015, European Respiratory ReviewPrenatal exposure to organophosphates, paraoxonase 1, and cognitive development in childhood
2011, Environmental Health PerspectivesBystander exposure to ultra-low-volume insecticide applications used for adult mosquito management
2011, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health