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Pest
& Pesticide Effects on Children's Health
Use of integrated pest management (IPM) principles and
practices in the school environment is a growing trend in
communities throughout the United States.
The implementation of IPM programs in schools began in the
1970's, largely through the efforts of parents concerned with
the effects of pesticides on their children. Schools adopting
IPM programs report effective pest suppression as well as reduced
costs and chemical use {45}. In contrast to traditional pest
control, IPM focuses on solving pest problems
with a variety of methods, which include; pest
monitoring programs, record keeping, increased sanitation and
pest exclusion devises. When the management tactics of an IPM
program indicate the need for pesticides, the pest management
professional selects those materials that have the least
impact on the human population at risk of exposure. Furthermore, a concerted effort should be made to
apply these pesticides precisely to the smallest possible
area.
IPM can improve health by:
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