Indoor Air Pollution - Pesticides

A recent indoor air pollution survey of U.S. households indicated that 75 percent used at least one pesticide product indoors during the past year. Products used most often are insecticides and disinfectants. Another study suggests that 80 percent of exposure to pesticides occurs indoors and that up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the air inside homes. The amount of pesticides found appears to be greater than can be explained by recent pesticide use so there must be other sources. Some of these sources could be contaminated soil or dust tracked in or blown in from outside. Pesticides used include products to control insects (insecticides), termites (termiticides), rodents (rodenticides), fungi (fungicides), and microbes (disinfectants). They can be purchased as sprays, liquids, sticks, powders, crystals, balls, and foggers.

Health Effects
Both the active and inert ingredients in pesticides can be organic compounds that can cause the effects discussed on the "Household Products," page Exposure to high levels of cyclodiene pesticides, commonly associated with misapplication, has produced various symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, weakness, tingling sensations, and nausea. The EPA is also concerned that cyclodienes might cause long-term damage to the liver and the central nervous system, as well as an increased risk of cancer.

EPA sponsors the NPIC (800) 858-PEST/800-858-7378 to answer your questions about pesticides and to provide selected EPA publications on pesticides.

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