Of the 48 most commonly used pesticides in schools, a majority threaten health. The EPA has little information on which pesticides are used and in what quantities, and limited data on short and long-term illnesses linked to pesticide exposure. Without this information the exact threats to children's health from pesticide exposure may never be known. In addition, scientists may not be able to determine the impact of aggregate exposures to numerous pesticides with the same toxic mechanism, or multiple non-dietary and dietary exposures to the same pesticide. State protections against pesticide exposure in schools vary considerably across the country.
Some states do nothing.
Other states require school districts to specifically report the amount of pesticides used or require commercial applicators to report the amounts of pesticides used generally. And, some states go so far to implement alternative pest management strategies intended to reduce pesticide use. The adoption of all of these requirements and strategies is essential if we are to protect children from pesticide exposure in schools. PSR is a non-profit, membership organization representing over 16,000 physicians and health professionals. PSR is committed to creating a world free of environmental threats, nuclear weapons and gun violence.