Why School IPM: Health Issues: Pesticides

Pesticides:

School administrators and other persons who have pest control decision-making responsibilities for school buildings and grounds should become aware of the pest control options available to them. It is in everyone's best interest to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals {10}.

The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, specifically targeted children because of their multiple mechanisms of exposure to pesticides. According to the EPA, (1986) no pesticide can be considered safe. Correspondingly, direct exposure to insecticides and their residues constitute a major health risk, especially when insecticides are used to control structural and indoor pests within school buildings and against pests within the school landscape. This is of special concern since there are data which suggest that neurotoxic compounds believed to be safe for adults could result in permanent loss of brain function when exposed to children undergoing prenatal or early childhood brain development {37}. These pesticides are not always applied in a safe and responsible manner. Volberg et al. {51} and Riley {41} point to various incidents where personnel and children were unwittingly exposed to pesticides in their schools.