Capitol News

A Michigan woman experienced acute poisoning symptoms last year after using acetone and bleach to remove a bathtub stain. She was among 177 people in the state affected by pesticide exposure in 2023, as reported by the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine’s Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The report, titled “Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance in Michigan: 2023,” was released at the start of National Poison Prevention Week, observed from March 17-23. The week aims to highlight the importance of safely using and storing chemicals like cleaning agents, pesticides, and disinfectants.

Kenneth Rosenman, chief of the MSU College of Human Medicine Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, emphasized that "half of the pesticide poisonings in Michigan are due to disinfectants and many of those are occurring at home."

Since 2001, Michigan has recorded reports of 1,605 individuals becoming ill from workplace pesticide exposure. In 2006, data collection expanded to include nonoccupational exposures. Since then, there have been 3,059 confirmed cases outside workplaces, including 107 cases in 2023. Hailey TenHarmsel compiled and analyzed data for this report funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illnesses were often caused by mixing incompatible chemicals or failing to follow label directions. In 2023 alone, disinfectants accounted for 31% of occupational cases and nearly 60% of nonoccupational cases.

Rosenman advised reading labels carefully to avoid overexposure: “Some people decide ‘hmmm, I’m going to make this extra strong...’ and then become overexposed and sick.”

The Michigan Poison Center noted an increase in calls about adverse health effects from disinfectants since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Cleaners, housekeepers, janitors, farmworkers, sales personnel, and office workers were most affected.

Bystanders also suffered unintended exposure; eight men installing solar panels became ill when pesticide drifted onto them from a nearby crop duster.

Rosenman suggested that pesticide-related illnesses might be underreported because some workers cannot afford medical care or fear job loss or deportation if they seek treatment.

“If health care providers don’t report as required by public health regulations or people don’t seek medical care,” Rosenman said, “we’re not going to know about it.”