Pesticides Misused for Bed Bug Control: Comparing Professional and Nonprofessional Applications Reported to the National Pesticide Information Center, 2013-2017.

Objectives. To compare outcomes when pesticides are used to control bed bugs by professionals and nonprofessionals. Methods. All US National Pesticide Information Center inquiries from 2013 to 2017 were assessed to identify scenarios involving bed bugs and pesticide applications. Cases were evaluated with respect to types of applicators, misapplications, and human pesticide exposures. Results. Misapplications were more than twice as likely to be reported in cases involving nonprofessional applications (14%) as in cases involving professional applications (5%). Human exposures to pesticides were reported more often when pesticides were misapplied (70%) than when there were no apparent misapplications (31%). Conclusions. Both professionals and nonprofessionals may misuse pesticides to control bed bugs, which may increase the risks of exposure and adverse outcomes. Policy interventions may reduce pesticide incidents related to bed bug control by promoting professional involvement and adherence to product label instructions.

Reports of metaldehyde and iron phosphate exposures in animals and characterization of suspected iron toxicosis in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe reports of animals exposed to metaldehyde- and iron phosphate-containing molluscicides and characterize iron phosphate exposure incidents in dogs with clinical signs compatible with iron toxicosis. DESIGN: 2-part retrospective case series. SAMPLE: 1,500 reports of animals exposed to molluscicides containing metaldehyde (n … 1,285) or iron phosphate between 2001 and 2011 (n … 215; part 1) and a subset of 56 reports involving 61 dogs with suspected iron toxicosis (part 2). PROCEDURES: In part 1, a National Pesticide Information Center database was searched to identify reported exposures to metaldehyde- and iron phosphate-containing molluscicides before, during, and after a regulatory transition affecting metaldehyde product labeling beginning in 2006. Source of the report, number of animals, clinical signs, and deaths were evaluated. In part 2, reports involving potential iron toxicosis in dogs were additionally reviewed for signalment, circumstances of exposure, and product identification. RESULTS: Reports of metaldehyde exposures decreased each year between 2006 (n … 193) and 2011 (21), whereas reports of iron phosphate exposures increased between 2006 (n … 4) and 2010 (73); changes were not evaluated statistically. Animals had no clinical signs at the time of the call in 130 of 215 (60%) and 675 of 1,285 (53%) reports of iron phosphate and metaldehyde exposure, respectively. In dogs, 35 deaths were associated with metaldehyde exposure and no deaths were associated with iron phosphate exposure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinary professionals should be aware of the potential for iron toxicosis following exposure to iron phosphate-containing molluscicides.