Wasping in Michigan Correctional Facilities: Exposures to Correctional Workers and Incarcerated Persons, 2023 and...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Emerging trend of
• wasping,
• involving intentional pyrethroid insecticide inhalation.
• Correctional facilities are sites of concern for acute pesticide exposures.
• Pyrethroid products are accessible within correctional settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe cases of acute pesticide exposure due to "wasping" in Michigan correctional facilities.
• To evaluate the demographic characteristics, signs, symptoms, and clinical outcomes of affected individuals.
• To inform prevention strategies for pyrethroid exposures in correctional settings.

Main Methods:

• Review of case reports from Michigan's pesticide surveillance program.
• Analysis of demographic data, clinical presentations, and health outcomes.
• Identification of specific incidents and affected populations within correctional facilities.

Main Results:

• Eleven separate events occurred across eight Michigan correctional facilities.
• A total of five correctional officers and nine incarcerated persons experienced illness.
• Exposures resulted from inhaling smoke during
• wasping
• incidents in 2023 and 2025.

Conclusions:

• "Wasping" poses a significant health risk to both incarcerated persons and correctional staff.
• Understanding routes of pyrethroid product acquisition is vital for prevention.
• Facility-specific prevention plans are crucial to mitigate pyrethroid pesticide exposures.