Clean Water Fund, the Ecology Center, Michigan Environmental Council and West Michigan Environmental Action Council called on the state Department of Agriculture and local schools to do a better job of alerting parents and protecting children from pesticides applications. Under a 1992 state rule, schools are supposed to inform parents of their right to be notified in advance of all pesticide applications in school buildings. We need to make sure that parents are adequately notified.
Pesticides can pose significant health risks.
Some 48 pesticides are commonly used in schools nationwide, some known to cause cancer or reproductive effects. Glyphosate and lamda cyhalothrin, two of the pesticides cited most frequently by school districts in the Michigan survey, have been associated with adverse health effects. Children need a safe, healthy place to learn, and we are calling upon schools and parents to make sure that our children are not exposed to toxic pesticides. The majority of schools surveyed post notices of coming pesticide applications. Most districts have control over how and when pesticides are applied when done by an outside company.