Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109508

Hadi Dowlatabadi, PhD¹, Negar Elmieh, MS, MPH¹, and Elizabeth Casman, PhD². (1) Sustainable Development Research Initiative, University of British Columbia, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, #218-1924 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada, 604-822-7725, nelmieh@interchange.ubc.ca, (2) Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Baker Hall 131C, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

West Nile virus (WNV) has established itself in Canada east of the Rockies and is feared to reach British Columbia in the near future. Public health decision-makers in British Columbia are reviewing human health risks associated with use of malathion to kill adult mosquitoes in an attempt to avert a potential epidemic. We developed the EMSHI (Exploring Malathion Spray Health Impacts) model to assist public health officials with their decision-making. This stochastic model takes into account numerous factors and points of uncertainty including the method of application, dispersion and persistence of malathion, and various exposure pathways. EMSHI permits the calculation of the probability distribution of the dose of malathion received via: inhalation, ingestion and dermal pathways by different population segments. The population is characterized by its age distribution, weight and relevant patterns of activity. This allows for the direct estimation of the percentage of population at risk of exceeding the Margin of Error (MOE) in exposure without a consequence. Results indicate that children under the age of 6 are at the greatest risk to malathion, with inhalation and ingestion pathways accounting for the majority of the exposure. The EMSHI model can also be used to identify factors leading to a high risk of exposure and evaluate public outreach programs for exposure reduction.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Appreciate the importance of underlying assumptions in the development of a probabilistic model of human health risks from exposure to pesticides.
• 2.Identify key pathways, heterogeneity of contexts, and behaviors associated with higher risk of exposure.
• 3.Systematically apply the use of such frameworks to develop more effective adulticiding programs and communications to reduce high exposure to pesticides.

Keywords: Risk Assessment, Pesticide Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.