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Socio-demographic characteristics of UK families using pesticides and weed-killers

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 16, pages 251–263 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Pesticides are widely used in the home and garden to kill insects, weeds and other unwanted pests. There is mounting evidence that this usage may also have health consequences particularly on children. Using the ALSPAC cohort of 13,391 families with self-reported usage data up to age 4 years of the study child, the main users of pesticides appeared to be older, Caucasian, better educated, have higher incomes and more likely to own their home or to belong to non-manual social classes compared to less frequent users. There was some suggestion that different factors may affect weed-killer compared to other pesticide use. In particular, income appeared unrelated to other pesticide use. This may reflect different attitudes to indoor compared to garden applications. Alternatively, it may reflect whether the main user was the mother or the partner. Some authorities are currently encouraging domestic users to consider other non-chemical means of pest control before using pesticides. These results may help in targeting particular groups if further reductions in pesticide usage are desired. They have also helped in identifying the important confounders for adjusting future analyses on the potential health consequences of pesticides and weed-killers.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express their sincere thanks to Professor Jean Golding for her help throughout this study. We are also extremely grateful to all the mothers who took part and to the midwives for their cooperation and help in recruitment. The whole ALSPAC study team comprises interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers and managers who continue to make the study possible. This study could not have been undertaken without the financial support of the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, UK government departments, the National Institutes of Health, a variety of medical research charities and commercial companies. The ALSPAC study is part of the WHO initiated European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy & Childhood.

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  1. Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Colin D Steer

  2. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Imperial College, London, UK

    Charlotte N B Grey

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  1. Colin D Steer
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The ALSPAC Study Team

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Correspondence to Colin D Steer.

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Steer, C., Grey, C. & The ALSPAC Study Team. Socio-demographic characteristics of UK families using pesticides and weed-killers. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 16, 251–263 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500455

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