Exposure to pest allergens from cockroaches, termites, dust mites, and rodents can cause serious allergic and asthmatic reactions. In Washington Heights in NYC, children are particularly susceptible. Exposure to these allergens at a young age — even in the womb — can increase the babies’ and children’s risk of developing asthma, respiratory problems such as wheezing and coughing, hay fever, eczema, and allergies.

In today’s world, most people spend more than 90% of their lives indoors. Over the past few decades, the home environment has changed enormously with the introduction of soft furnishings, fitted carpets, and central heating systems. Indoor ventilation has decreased—the rate at which indoor air is exchanged for fresh air is now 10 times lower than it was 30 years ago, with a considerable increase in both humidity and in concentrations of indoor pollutants and airborne allergens.

Dr. Frederica P. Perera, Director of Columbia Center for children’s Environmental Health and her colleagues have been monitoring pregnant women and following the children of those women for eleven years. According to Dr. Perera, “The results are consistent with studies done in NYC, Poland, and China.” In NYC, they have closely monitored 249 children of nonsmoking black or Dominican women. Exposure to house allergens led to “low birth weight, asthma, deficits in lung function, neurodevelopmental disorders, and even a higher risk of cancer.”

Pests carry pathogenic organisms that get transferred to food and surfaces through waste products and bits of shed skin. When pregnant women get exposed to these pathogens, it then transfers to the unborn child. The pathogenic organisms cause an increased risk of allergic sensitization that leads to asthma and other respiratory illness in both mothers and their children.

Although people have been trying to battle the pest problem using certain pesticides, it turns out that the people exposed to those pesticides are no better off. Exposure to household pesticides such as chlorpyrifos and diazinon are the root cause of many health problems not only in adults, but children as well. The common trade name for these pesticides is Dursban and Lorsban. These pesticides transfer easily from the mother to her fetus and can reduce birth weight by an average of 6.6 ounces – equivalent to the weight reduction of babies born to women who smoke.

According to a study done by Dr. Rauh of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, children prenatally exposed to high levels of chlorpyrifos were significantly more likely than children exposed to low levels to experience delay in both psychomotor and cognitive development, and to show symptoms of attention disorders, ADHD, and pervasive personality disorder at age 3.

Although the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) banned residential use of chlorpyrifos in 2001, this pesticide is still widely used in agriculture. Pyrethroid insecticides are replacing insecticides like chlorpyrifos and diazinon for residential pest control. Specifically, levels of permethrin, a common insecticide, and piperonyl butoxide have increased in personal air samples collected from the women’s households during pregnancy. Following the 2001 EPA restrictions, reporting of cockroaches in the home and use of spray pesticides during pregnancy have increased. A possible explanation may be that pests are becoming resistant to the pyrethroids.

Over half the babies in the study have been born with an immune response to cockroach proteins that may increase the risk of asthma in certain children. Pest infestation, allergen levels, and pesticide use are higher among women and babies living in the most deteriorated housing. And according to Steve Simon – chairman for the Health & Environment Committee of Community Board 12M in Washington Heights, “many of the apartments are deteriorating and a lot of people live in these conditions. Pests thrive in rotting, dirty environments.”

Unfortunately, many of the Washington Heights and Inwood residents live in areas that are very poor and places that children should not be exposed to. According to the NYC Department of Mental Health & Hygiene, in Inwood and Washington Heights, the percent of residents living below the poverty level is higher than in Manhattan and NYC overall. The number of people who have health insurance, and who visit doctors regularly is also significantly lower. Many simply cannot afford it. And sadly, children fall victims to the environment they are born into.

Maybe we should all do something before all residents of NYC fall victims to these pest problems. Like start taking better care of children and pregnant women. Or maybe our landlords should fix the apartments before renting them out. Regardless of what we do, something needs to be done. Pests should not be a leading cause of disease, and children should not suffer the consequences of our misdoings.