Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids
Kids spend hours at school every day, so why not make sure that school environments are as safe as possible? That's why NCAP is working to end routine pesticide use in Oregon schools.
Oregon's new
School IPM law
This new requirement provides a perfect opportunity for Oregonians to to talk to their children's schools about pesticides. Download our School IPM overview to read more about this law, and learn some simple ways to reduce pesticide use at schools in your area.
Want to do more? Get constant updates by joining our new Pesticide-free Schools online community, or NCAP's larger Sustainable Places Information Network.
Pesticides and Kids: Why Worry?
Children are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure than adults. They have rapidly developing bodies that are more sensitive. Their behavior, like playing on the ground and putting things in their mouths, increases their chances of exposure.
- Unsafe pesticide
use occurs at our nation’s schools. A 2007 study of more than 29
school
districts found that nearly half were in violation of legal
requirements
or policies relating to pest management. Outrageously, three districts
still had illegal pesticides in storage, including DDT.
- The top five most frequently applied pesticides in schools and child care facilities are respiratory irritants and, therefore, asthma triggers.
Safer Pest Management for Schools
NCAP is working with parents,
teachers and school administrators to identify and implement safe and
effective
pest management solutions in order to reduce pesticide use. This relies heavily on IPM.
IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management. When done properly, IPM emphasizes pest prevention and non-chemical pest control techniques. Good IPM policies have reduced pesticide use by more than 70 percent in schools and public buildings.
A recent project documented by the IPM Institute demonstrated that schools with good IPM policies reduced pesticide use more than 90% while successfully managing their pest problems.
