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Food Safety Works Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network

SafeFood Newsletter - Winter 1996/1997 - Vol. 1, No. 2

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Pesticide Residues in Household Dust

A study published in the December 1995 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives found higher concentrations of pesticide residues in household dust than in air, water, or food. They also found those concentrations to be highest in the houses of farm families.

According to the Pesticide Action Network, household dust and yard soil are significant sources of exposure to pesticide residues for small children and toddlers. Children spend much of their time on the ground and are likely to ingest soil and dust-- another reason to promote handwashing before eating.

The highest pesticide concentration found in any single sample was 17 parts per million of phosmet in the household dust of an agricultural family.

Source: Institute of Food Technology's Food Science Communicators' Alert. March 5, 1996.

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Updated Monday, August 29, 2011