Rhona Patricia Julien, MS¹, Gary Adamkiewicz, PhD², John Spengler, ScD¹, Jonathan Levy, ScD³, and Deborah Bennett, PhD². (1) Environmental Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, (617) 918-1782, rjulien@hsph.harvard.edu, (2) Environmental Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, (3) Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, P.O. Box 15677, Landmark Center, Room 404 K, Boston, MA 02215

Several studies have demonstrated the role of cockroaches and cockroach allergens in asthma etiology. Elevated cockroach allergen levels are typically found in poor, overcrowded and/or inner city dwellings. To address this problem, residents often use excessive amounts of pesticides (sometimes including prohibited compounds). These measures may reduce cockroach burdens but potentially pose other health risks. However, the studies which have looked at effectiveness of intervention methods to reduce cockroach burdens have not routinely factored in pesticide concentrations, including pyrethroid pesticides which are becoming more commonplace in homes.

In the Boston Healthy Public Housing Initiative, 72 families with asthmatic children were enrolled from 3 Boston housing developments. Eighty-two percent of families reported ever using pesticides while 74% reported cockroach activities.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM), an intervention employed in this study, is a systematic strategy for pest abatement that relies on habitat modification and minimal chemical use. In this study, IPM was structured around professional extermination using low impact pesticides (e.g., gel baits and boric acid), resident education and professional cleaning.

IPM effectiveness was determined by comparing pre and post measurements in 43 households of several environmental indicators, including pesticide levels in homes. Floor wipe samples and vacuumed dust were analyzed for select organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides.

Study findings provide baseline data on currently understudied pyrethroid pesticides as well as findings on the effectiveness of IPM.

Keywords - public housing, pesticides, IPM effectiveness

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a better understanding about how IPM techniques can be applied in public housing.
• Examine study findings which will measure the effectiveness of IPM applications in public housing.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Housing

Related Web page: www.hsph.harvard.edu/hphi/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.