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Odors from too much of the pesticide malathion on a residential lawn prompted school officials Monday to keep some 1,300 students in their classrooms at two elementary schools in Ewa Beach for more than an hour, and sent a female student to the hospital.
At last report Monday the 11-year-old girl was in stable condition.
Honolulu fire spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said a hazardous materials team tracked the odor to a residence on Kauwili Street.
Seelig said the resident who was at home admitted misapplying the liquid pesticide malathion to his lawn Sunday.
"We determined it was an accidental misapplication," Seelig said.
The hazardous materials team applied a foam over the lawn to suppress the odors.
Seven students and two teachers at Pohakea Elementary School complained of watery eyes and eye irritation, and the 11-year-old student at Kaimiloa Elementary was taken to a hospital, according to the city Emergency Medical Services Division.
Students at both schools, less than a mile away from the residence, were kept in classrooms from about 9:25 to 11:05 a.m. when fire officials issued an "all clear," said Department of Education spokeswoman Dara Young.