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Protecting Kids from PesticidesBillie KarelToxic Free [email protected]
What are pesticides?
Chemicals put into the environment for poisoning pests.
Insecticides > bugsHerbicides > plantsFungicides > mold
Rodenticides > rodents....and others.
PESTICIDES ARE POISON.Some pesticides are more or less toxic than
others, but ALL are toxic.
There is no such thing as a safe pesticide.
•Small size
•Higher metabolic rate
•Risk habits
•Developing bodies
Children are especially vulnerable to health damage from pesticides and
other toxics because….
Similarities and Differences between Children and Adults, ILSI, 1992
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)for NC Child Care!
IPM is a common sense, prevention-based approach to pest control that protects human health and the environment by minimizing pest infestations AND pesticide use.
To prevent pests, think like a pest. Just remember: starve them out,
dry them out, and keep them out!
Starve them out….Good sanitation = Good pest management
•Clean to the corner, under equipment and shelving
•Store food, pet food, art supplies in “pest proof” airtight containers.
•Do not leave dirty dishes or full garbage cans overnight
•Keep outside trash bins well away from the building, and cover tightly
Dry them out…
•Repair leaky pipes
•Clean out evaporation trays under refrigerators regularly
•Open windows and use fans for good ventilation
•Clean gutters regularly and ensure good drainage around the building
•Tip, toss, or cover items in the yard that can hold standing water
Keep them out!
Don’t give pests a way in or a place to hide.
•Caulk or cement cracks and holes on the outside and inside of the building. Focus on gaps behind sinks, around pipes, ducts, baseboards, and window frames.
•Install door sweeps and screens on windows and doors.
•Inspect deliveries (where pests can hitch-hike in).
•Remove delivered items from cardboard boxes and get rid of the boxes as soon as possible (roaches LOVE cardboard).
Least-Toxic Pest Control•Broadcast pesticide sprays are rarely or never used. Includes baseboard spraying, fogging, and most aerosols.
•Instead, contained baits, traps and crack and crevice treatments are used when pests problems occur.
•Pesticides are only used when pests are actually present, never for prevention.
•Look for least-toxic ingredients in pest control products like boric acid, limonene, diatomaceous earth, rotenone, and spinosad.
•If in doubt, check toxicity information on www.pesticideinfo.org
How can you tell if your contractor is providing you with the safest, most cost-effective pest control service?
Does your contractor do the following?- Do thorough inspections to monitor pest activity,-Use baits and traps instead of high-risk pesticide sprays,- Use any pesticide ONLY when pests are present, not just by the calendar, - Provide you with suggestions to prevent future pest problems?
If you did not answer yes to each of these questions, then you might not be getting the safest, most effective pest control service possible for your child care facility.
How to Contract for Safer Pest Control in Child Care It includes questions you should ask a contractor, both before and after you hire them, and a sample IPM contract you can use.
It is available free from www.ToxicFreeNC.org.
Get the guide from Toxic Free NC:
Prevent arsenic exposure from CCA treated wood
structures•Don’t put in new structures
•Seal existing structures with oil-based sealant every 1 - 2 years
•Wash hands thoroughly after coming into contact
•Use a plastic liner for garden beds framed with treated wood, especially if beds contain edible plants
•Remove properly - contact County Extension for info
•Cover surrounding soil, as it may be contaminated
•Do not burn or use for chips or mulch
In the state of North Carolina, it is PROHIBITED for a crop duster to allow pesticides to drift within 100 feet of a private home, within 300 feet of a public place, such as a business, school, church, or child care, or within 25 feet of a public roadway.
• Do not allow children to play outside while pesticides are being applied nearby – crops, athletic fields, lawns, or mosquitoes.
• Close windows and doors, re-circulate air.
• Bring in laundry, toys, pets.
• Cover play equipment and pools.
If a person is exposed to pesticides from drift, or from walking through a recently sprayed area:
1. Shower as soon as possible and change clothes.
2. Find out what chemicals you were exposed to – ask the applicator for copies of the pesticide label and/or MSDS.
3. See a doctor ASAP, even if symptoms aren’t immediately present, and give your doctor any chemical information.
4. Report incidents of pesticide drift it to the NC Pesticide Section: (919) 733-3556.
5. Call the Toxic Free NC at 1-877-NO-SPRAY for information and assistance.
Smell good without toxic chemicals!
“Fragrance” in household air fresheners and cleaning products is actually a set of toxic chemicals known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and phthalates.
Choose mild, “fragrance-free” products! Try using natural deodorizers instead of plug-ins and spray fresheners in child care! For example:
•Sprinkle baking soda in diaper bins, trash cans, etc. after cleaning to absorb odors.
•White vinegar is a very effective cleaner for glass and surfaces.
•Borax powder can be used to scrub tough stains, and also to kill mold & mildew in the bathroom.
•There’s no substitute for fresh air! Open windows whenever weather allows, or if you have folks with seasonal allergies in your child care, consider having a filtered-fresh-air system installed on your HVAC.
Toxic Free NC has many resources for the child care community on getting started with IPM, such as sample contracts and policies.
We are also available to give in-depth trainings for child care staff and/or families on least-toxic pest control.
Please call on us anytime, and sign up for our publications so we can keep in touch with you.
Thank you!www.ToxicFreeNC.org
