Similarly, children have a higher respiratory rate, enabling them to inhale airborne pesticides at a rate faster than adults. Children s increased contact with floors, lawns and playgrounds also increases exposure. Very young children who put fingers and other objects in their mouths may face even greater exposure. Finally, the breathing zone for children is usually closer to the floor where pesticides are re-suspended into the air after floor surfaces are disturbed. Although pesticides contaminate air, soil, food, water and surfaces, studies designed to examine children s exposure to pesticides indicate that the largest number of chemicals and the highest concentrations are often found in household dust.
Carpets act as long-term reservoirs for pesticides that are sprayed indoors.
A study assessing pesticide exposure from carpet dust in homes found that the average number of pesticides found in the carpet dust samples was 12, compared to 7.5 in air samples collected in the same residences. Diazinon, a neurotoxic insecticide, was detected in nine of 11 carpets tested. Exposure may be further exacerbated when carpets are cleaned, allowing pesticides to become airborne again and available for inhalation. Not all of the residues in dust stem from the indoor use of pesticides. One study showed residues of 2,4-D and dicamba can be tracked in from outside on shoes.