Clean Water Fund, the Ecology Center, MEC 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, said Mary Beth Doyle of the Ecology Center.
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. 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. Most districts have a formal, written policy covering pesticide application.