A few droppings behind shelving, a chewed box in a storage room or scratching inside a wall may seem minor, but they can signal a rodent problem in commercial facilities. During Rodent Awareness Week, Oct. 18-24, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) urges businesses to watch for signs of rodent activity and take preventive steps before an infestation develops.

Commercial facilities give rodents easy access to food, water and shelter, and even the smallest openings can let them in. Mice can squeeze through gaps the size of a dime, while rats can fit through holes the size of a quarter.

“Rodent prevention starts with looking at your facility from the inside out,” said Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs at NPMA. “Keeping the facility clean is only part of the solution. Regular inspections and an integrated pest management approach are just as important in protecting inventory and customer confidence.”

The stakes of a single pest sighting are high. According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NPMA, 91% of managers or higher-level leaders at organizations with over 50 employees in the healthcare, lodging/hospitality or food service/processing industry strongly or somewhat agree that one pest sighting can permanently damage customer trust. NPMA highlights six signs that facility managers and employees should watch for:

• Droppings: Rodent droppings may appear near stored food, inside cabinets, under sinks or along baseboards. Include these less-visible areas in routine inspections.
• Gnaw marks: Chewed packaging and damage to building materials can indicate rodent activity. Rodents can also gnaw on wiring, creating a potential fire hazard.
• Nests: Shredded paper, fabric, insulation or packing materials gathered in dark, secluded spaces may indicate a rodent nesting area.
• Tracks or rub marks: Rats can leave dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards as they travel between shelter and food sources.
• Unusual noises: Scratching or scurrying sounds inside walls, ceilings or overhead storage areas may signal rodent activity.
• Rodent sightings: Seeing a mouse or rat inside the facility warrants prompt attention. Don’t dismiss a single sighting as an isolated incident.

Facility managers can help prevent rodent infestations by working with a qualified pest control professional to develop an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan that combines proper sanitation, sealed entry points, employee training and routine inspections. Year-round maintenance helps businesses spot potential problems early and address them before they escalate.

For more prevention tips, visit PestWorld.org and use NPMA’s ZIP code locator to find a pest control professional near your commercial facility.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on countries to accelerate action to prevent lead exposure, a widespread but preventable health threat causing over 3.5 million deaths globally each year and affecting hundreds of millions of children.

The call, marking International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 held Oct. 15-24, comes amid growing political momentum to tackle lead poisoning globally. WHO member states recognize lead exposure as a pressing public health concern and have mandated WHO to develop a Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation to present at the World Health Assembly in 2027. WHO will launch the PREVENT Technical Package on Lead Poisoning Prevention in 2027, providing countries with practical guidance to identify priority exposure sources, determine the most impactful interventions, strengthen and enforce regulations, and track progress.

Lead is especially dangerous for children because their developing brains and nervous systems are vulnerable to its toxic effects. Exposure can come from paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, informal recycling, industrial contamination and other sources. No safe level of lead exposure is known, and even low exposure can cause irreversible harm.

“Lead poisoning should not be stealing children’s potential in 2026,” said Bruce Gordon, interim director of WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration. “We know where many exposures come from, and we know how to prevent them. Countries now need to move upstream, removing lead from products and environments before it reaches a child’s bloodstream. WHO is working with governments and partners to help turn that evidence into action.”

This year’s International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week theme, “From Detection to Prevention,” highlights the urgent need for stronger policies, better enforcement of safety standards and increased public awareness to eliminate lead hazards at their source. Despite decades of progress, fewer than half of countries have confirmed legally binding controls on lead paint in WHO’s latest global assessment.

International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 provides an opportunity for governments, industry, civil society, health professionals and communities to strengthen efforts to:

• Eliminate lead hazards from products and environments.
• Strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms.
• Improve monitoring and surveillance of lead exposure risks.
• Strengthen capacity to manage poisoning cases.
• Raise public awareness about sources of exposure and prevention measures.
• Support safer industrial practices and waste management systems.
• Prioritize the protection of children and other vulnerable populations.

Preventing lead exposure also delivers broader social and economic benefits by reducing healthcare costs, improving educational outcomes and contributing to healthier, more productive societies.