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Children's Pesticide Reports

The following is a list of pesticide reports that involved children. The data was compiled from Public Records Information Requests made by Oregon Toxics Alliance on 10/19/2007.

68 cases reported to state agencies involved schools, school bus stops or school children traveling to school.

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Pesticide Division 1998-2007 (45 cases)

ODA , DHS, PARC, Reference no.

Date

School

Detail

City/County

5/6/98

Elementary School of Mulino

Pesticides smell at school in Mulino.

Mulino, Clackamas County

6/4/98

Scappoose School District

Diazanon used outside, and Ficam was used indoors which caused illness (Scappoose School District Main Office, not school building.)

Scappoose, Columbia County

984406

9/23/98

West Albany School

Orkin. Malathion was used indoors of daycare: misuse of product (outdoors only). Children smell pesticides through vents.

Albany, Linn County

3/10/99

Chehalem Valley Middle School

Industrial xylene on filbert orchard above

Newberg, Yamhill County

3/15/99

Walt Morey Middle School

Unlicensed applicator on school grounds, Emerald Hydro Turf

Portland, Multnomah County

992148

3/19/99

Head Start School

Lorsban 4E drifts onto 3 teacher and 18 children at recess (include narrative) Violation of ORS 634

Milton-Freewater, Umatilla County

No log #

4/2/99

Knight Elementary School

Poly Sol Summer/Dormant Spray (copper sulfate) on cherry trees at school; Nauseating pungent smell – complaint filed by parent and child taken out of school due to reaction

Canby, Clackamas County

No log #

7/26/99

Sprague High School

Aerial Spray. Christmas trees sprayed with miticide via helicopter near high school

Salem, Marion County

002201

3/10/00

Wilsonville Elementary School

Pesticide exposure caused people to become ill. Dragnet, conquer, ULD BP-100 (15 page record)

Wilsonville, Clackamas County

002217

3/14/00

Ewing Young Elementary

Aerial pesticide spray: Chlorothalonil on filberts near Ewing Young Elementary

Newberg, Yamhill County

No log #

5/19/00

Shasta Elementary School

Herbicides: Parent smells odors, school applied herbicides on weekend

Klamath County

No log #

6/26/00

Chenowith Elementary School

2, 4-D – on grounds, teachers smell, and headaches occurred.

The Dalles, Wasco County

011071

8/10/00

Floyd Light School: David Douglas School District

Mec Amine-D sprayed by unlicensed applicator and found in violation of ORS.634

Portland, Multnomah County

OR 00446-451, 453-454

10/11/00

Keizer Elementary School

Lime application on filberts sickens students; reports of stomach aches and/or headaches; fog of particles came onto schools grounds; had a bad taste

Keizer, Marion County

No log #

11/06/00

None

Aerial application over kids waiting at school bus stop.

Redmond, Deschutes County

No log #

2/23/01

Shaver Elementary School

White cloud of dolomite lime “hover” over school from vegetable field; teachers bring students indoors from recess

Portland, Multnomah County

No log #

4/13/01

Near Harris Elementary School

Neighbor sprayed Roundup on city property near school.

Eugene, Lane County

No log #

8/01/01

Parish Middle School

Round Up applied on school grounds by untrained young workers without protective gear working for a licensed applicator.

Salem, Marion County

No log #

9/28/01

La Creole Middle School

Confront (product name) herbicides sprayed on school’s playing field, Kids were allowed on field same day

Brooks, Marion County

022137

OR 00590

10/24/01

Chehalem Valley Middle School

Grass seed field spray drifts onto school grounds, Eric Keuhne, orchardist found in violation

Newburg, Yamhill County

OR 00621-00623

12/19/01

Drift from nursery to nearby residents

Nursery spray with fungicide and herbicide, Children sickened

Tualatin, Marion County

023289

4/01/02

Drift from peach orchard with violation

BRAVO spray drifted from peach orchard to horse pasture. Foal had red bloodshot eyes after spray. Violation of ORS 634 was given.

Keizer, Marion County

024369

4/4/02

Chenowith Elementary School

Staff illness, this record seems to be missing

The Dalles, Wasco County

024340

4/24/02

rpt date 5/20/02

McCall Upper Middle School

Students on SOLV project at school encounter drift from on-site weed spraying; teacher complaint, narrative

Forest Grove, Washington County

No log #

6/6/02

Echo Shaw Elementary School

School employee  complains about continual sprays near schools Echo Shaw

Forest Grove, Washington County

031008

7/10/02

Scappoose School District

Unlicensed operator for mold

Scappoose, Columbia County

034398

2/04/03

Canby High School

Students using and playing with 50% malathion that was given to them for a science experiment; container broke and shattered hitting other students in the eye.  Another student tried to ignite spill with a lighter.  School evacuated due to fumes.

Canby, Clackamas County

No log #

5/20/03

Inavale School

General complaint over pesticides used in grass fields near school due to chemical sensitivity.

Corvallis, Benton County

034474

6/12/03

Echo Shaw Elementary School

Complaint about fertilizer and pesticide use at school.

Forest Grove, Washington County

043345

3/9/04

Wy’east  Middle School

Pear orchard sprays drift onto school grounds.  ODA swab tests reveal chloropyrifos (Lorsban) on goal posts, grass, and fence. Complaints had been noted in previous years.   Violation issued to farmer by ODA. 

Odell, Hood River

No log #

4/19/04

Estacada High School bus stop

Fertilizer aerial application. Occurred around 2-3PM;  Application directly next to school bus stop.  Coughing/hacking and reactions result when bus drops off students.

Eagle Creek, Clackamas County

P04-033

5/6/04

None

Junction City bus driver smells odors and planes observed. Children coughing when getting on bus due to strong odor, yelling to get inside. A farmer applied Bravo, Lorsban and MCPA next to bus stop

Harrisburg, Lane County

No log #

12/17/04

Stafford Primary School

Big application was planned based on mis-identification of hobo spider calling for  Demand and Talstar; Applicator =Affordable Pest Control

Clackamas County, West Linn County

054392

4/29/05

Drain High School

Round up used by ball field at High School

Drain, Douglas County

054434

5/23/05

Estacada School District

Bus stop incident near nursery. Dripping plane “misapplications”. Gypsy Moth Observation.

Eagle Creek, Clackamas County

061022

7/21/05

Mt. Scott Elementary School

Round up pro applied on school grounds…neighbor claims application drifted off site and damaged vegetable garden.

Tigard, Clackamas County

No log #

11/08/05

Coburg Elementary School

Malpass Farms of Harrisburg –grass seed herbicide application drifted onto elementary school grounds

Coburg, Lane Country

No log #

2/27/06

Stanfield High School

Aerial applications near Stanfield schools

Stanfield, Umatilla County

064341

OR 01386?

5/3/06

Jefferson High School 

Pesticide application on Delacruz Talbot Rd (across St. from HS). Drift from application moved towards school. Samples were taken, no Triclopyr in findings, results inconclusive.

Salem, Marion County

064357

5/23/06

Lakeview High School

Bait box placed under drinking fountain in hallway, Kid eats ant poison, In full view – box not labeled.

Lakeview, Lake County

071056

9/18/06

Dallas High School

Outdoor-only wasp spray product used inside classroom, Teacher aide hospitalized.

Dallas, Polk County

No log #

12/07/06

Near school

Roadside spray: Using ATV spray vehicle to spray 2,4,-D in county right-of-way where school children walk and also 300’ away from grape vineyards.

Dallas, Polk County

No log #

4/27/07

Lacomb Elementary School

Young kids taken to hospital – doctors thought Lime was responsible for respiratory symptoms; Lacomb Elementary School also concerned about lime.

Lebanon, Linn County

No log #

8/16/07

Jefferson High School

Concerns of unlicensed operation

Salem, Marion County

No log #

9/11/07

Crescent Valley High School

Clouds of lime – concerns about children having difficulty breathing

Corvallis, Benton County

Oregon Public Health Division Reports 1997-2007 (8 cases)

Reference no.

Date

Site

Detail

City/County

PARC Record

OR 00233

OR 00234

OR 00236

OR 00237

6/11/1999

Xmas Tree Farm

Children were exposed to drift from aerial application

Clackamas

No

OR 444-00452 *8 cases)0

10/12/2000

School

Dust exposure (and more?) caused by lime application

Marion

Yes

OR 00590

10/24/2001

School

Prowl applied to grass field and drifts onto school PARC finds violation//DHS finds “insufficient information”

Yamhill

Yes

OR 00614-616

9/24/2001

On road

Forestry application drifts onto car with child (found to be probable exposure)

Columbia

NO

OR 00616

10/2/2001

On road

Forestry application drifts onto car with child

Columbia

NO

OR 1343

5/18/2006

Residence

Child exposed to orchard drift – definite

Hood River

NO

OR01346

6/18/2006

On road going to school

Orchard applic, drifts onto child going to school

Hood River

NO

OR 01693, 1694, 1692, 1559, 1691

4/9/2007

Daycare

Children/staff have symptoms from exp to Diuron -taken to ED

Multnomah

NO

ODA Pesticide Analytical Response Center - Annual Reports 1990-2001 (17 cases)

Reference no.

Date

Site

Detail

City/County

P90-023

PARC Rpt

1990-1991

4/2/1990

School

Safrotin application occurred at school and one teacher developed symptoms and was treated by a physician.

Not Listed

P90-028

PARC Rpt

1990-1991

4/13/1990

School

Aerial application of atrazine near an elementary school. At time of application an Easter egg hunt was commencing 250-300 ft away from intended spray area.

Not Listed

P90-030

PARC Rpt 1990-1991

4/18/1990

School

Xmas tree farm aerial spray near school; drift resulted in illness amongst teachers and students.  ODA obtained samples of Endosulfan on swing set and grass samples from playground.  Positive confirmations of thiodan and possible drift. Confirmed exposures

 Not listed

P90-035

PARC Rpt

1990-1991

5/7/1990

School

Aerial application on an onion field across the street from a school. Windows were open and it is believed that drift entered the buildings. Students and teachers complained of symptoms but none sought medical assistance.

Not Listed

P91-055

PARC Rpt

1991-1992

10/07/1991

School

A school was treated by a commercial pest control operator with chlorpyrifos and cyfluthrin. When classes began 2 days later there were complaints of odor and some symptoms. Classes were held outside and doors left open for ventilation.

Lane County

P92-042

PARC Rpt

1991-1992

4/24/1992

School

Possible exposure to a known pesticide. A ground application of diesel as an herbicide performed outside classrooms. 90 children transferred to a different facility after teacher and 5 students complained of symptoms.

Josephine County

P92-058

PARC Rpt

1991-1992

6/4/1992

School

School officials reported concern about an aerial vector control application of Malathion ULV-91. School picnic canceled due to lack of health risk provided.

Baker County

P93-035

PARC Rpt 1992-1993

5/19/1993

School

13 people suffered symptoms of pesticide exposure after an interior crack and crevice treatment for 7 days,  Schools was closed, cleaned, reopened, and closed again

Multnomah County

P93-080

PARC Rpt 1992-1993

10/20/1993

School

Weed and Feed (2,4-D, MCCP) applied to soccer field; 6 children were symptomatic through ingestion and possible inhalation or contact

Jackson County

P93-080

PARC Rpt

1993

10/28/1993

School Soccer Field

Possible exposure to known pesticide on treated school’s green field. Younger child was playing with granules, then put contaminated fingers in mouth, that child developed symptoms, 6 others developed symptoms. Triamine Weed & Feed (2,4-D, MCPP, 2,4-DP + fertilizer)

Jackson County

PARC Annual Report

1993

1993

Executive Summary pg iv

…specific concerns were identified and responded to by the PARC board: 1) persistent complaints associated with pesticide applications to school grounds and buildings”  (3% of all cases occurred in schools – pg.5)

(10% of all non-occupational exposures were at schools – pg. 11) Note pg 7 – most cases were delayed in reporting and thus made enzyme inhibition tests unreliable to determine pesticide exposure.

P94-051

PARC Rpt

1994

11/30/1994

Elementary School

Possible exposure. Sections under an elementary school were treated by a commercial pesticide applicator in July. Several people complained of an odor and called PARC services to investigate.

Grant County

P95-062

PARC Rpt

1995

11/13/1995

School

Potential exposure to a known pesticide. A student developed an on-going health problem at the beginning of the school year. Parents were concerned their child was exposed to surface pesticide applications for head lice in the school building. Lice Killer (pyrethrin).

Lane County

P001-052

PARC Rpt

2001

2001

Near Bus Stop

Aerial applications. Rural resident claims symptoms after she was sprayed near school bus stop.

Multnomah County

P001-061

PARC Rpt

2001

2001

School

Farmer applied herbicides to a grass field above two schools where games were in progress. Odor drifted to the school resulting in illness and odor complaints and closure of schools.

Yamhill County

P04-033

5/6/04

School bus stop

Children exposed while at school bus stop – reported by bus driver

Polk, Lane County

P07-013

4/9/07

Daycare

Children and pregnant woman possibly exposed

Multnomah County