Correlates of a residential pesticide contamination in a self-selected sample.

We evaluated the behavioral, health perception, and physical health correlates of a residential pesticide misapplication on 54 individuals and identified factors differentially related to various levels of distress. Study participants were mainly concerned with health issues and exhibited somatic symptoms. Behavioral actions designed to obtain information regarding exposure levels and to reduce exposure were adopted. We found that factors such as a higher contamination level, involvement in a lawsuit, and belonging to a consumer action group, were strongly related to higher levels of psychological distress and, to a lesser extent, to behaviors, somatic symptoms, and health perceptions.