Poison Prevention

Too often pesticides are stored or used carelessly, which can lead to accidents.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, more than 96,000 pesticide poisonings were reported in 2006.

An EPA survey showed that almost half (47%) of households with young children and 75% of homes without young children had pesticides stored in unlocked cabinets within reach of children (see "Pesticides and Child Safety" below).

Some products you might not think of as pesticides include: chlorine bleach, disinfectants and other antimicrobial products, rat poisons, moth balls, flea and tick shampoos, swimming pool chemicals, weed killers, and baits or repellants.

The following resources provide information on preventing poisonings in your home or at work:

Poison Prevention Resources

• NPIC Information Resources - Pesticide Safety
• NPIC Information Resources - Pesticide Storage and Disposal
• Protecting Children - EPA
• Using Pesticides Safely - EPA
• Pesticides and Child Safety - EPA
• Poison Prevention Week Council
• The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators
• Poison Prevention Publications - Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Poison Prevention - National Safety Council
• Poisoning in the United States: Fact Sheet - CDC

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (seven days per week, 6:30am-4:30pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.