Reducing pesticide exposures and asthma triggers through integrated pest management strategies in multi family housing

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ellen Tohn¹, Kate Bennett², and James McCarthy². (1) ERT Associates & Senior Advisor Asthma Regional Council of New England, 5 Fields Lane, Wayland, MA 01778, 508-358-7770, etohn@ertassociates.com, (2) Boston Housing Authority, 52 52 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111

In an analysis conducted by the Asthma Regional Council, New England has among the highest regional asthma rates in the country. Over two million New Englanders have had asthma in their lifetimes, with one in five households with children reporting at least one child having asthma. In response to the surge in asthma rates, regional leaders created the Asthma Regional Council (ARC) to reduce the impact of asthma on children and families across New England through collaborations of health, housing, education, and environmental organizations, with particular focus on the contribution of homes, schools, communities and the disproportionate impact of the disease on low income minority populations. In this session we will discuss a joint initiative of ARC and the Boston Housing Authority to undertake an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to address chronic pest infestation issues and thereby reduce asthma triggers. The IPM model involves monitoring pest populations, the use of residents as IPM assistants to work over time providing educational outreach to complement the services of a pest control contractor, targeted pesticide applications, and work order repairs. Pre and post intervention results will be presented that document declines in pest populations, the effectiveness of educational interventions to accompany pest treatments, and reductions in the toxicity and quantity of pesticides. This project is part of the ARC New England Healthy Homes Initiative funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the linkages between pest exposures and asthma.
Describe 3 key attributes of Integrated Pest Management Practices.
Describe 4 key protocols necessary for successful Integrated Pest Management programs.
Devleop an IPM plan to redcue asthma triggers in housing.

Keywords: Asthma, Healthy Buildings

Related Web page: www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

The Built Environment: Environmental Triggers and Effects on Chronic Conditions

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA