READING, WRITING, and RAID® Pesticide Use at Vermont Schools

To find out how pesticides are being used in Vermont schools and to gauge potential pesticide exposure to students, parents, and community members, VPIRG and the University of Vermont, with the support of the Vermont Department of Education conducted a pesticide use survey in the Fall of 2002. Surveys were sent to all public school principals in the state, and 70% of the schools responded to the survey.

Key Findings

• 70% of schools reported that they use pesticides.
•  Only 6% of these schools give prior notification to parents before they apply pesticides.
• 57% of schools reported using pesticides that are considered to be EPA category I or II pesticides – meaning that they are among the most toxic pesticides available. At a minimum this means that 32,800 students are at risk of being exposed to the most toxic pesticides at school.
• Just 23% of the schools are keeping written records of pesticide use.
• Only 7% of the schools have a written pesticide use policy.
• Most schools (73%) had not heard of integrated pest management (IPM) before this survey.

Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill unwanted living organisms. These chemicals harm not only target pests, but they may also harm other living organisms including humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and numerous other agencies, scientists and medical experts have acknowledged that children are at a greater risk from exposure to chemical pesticides than adults. This is because children breathe and ingest more on a pound-for-pound basis than adults, and are thus exposed to more pesticides from the environment. Children also play on the floor or lawn more where pesticides are commonly applied, and have frequent hand to mouth contact. Finally because children are still growing and developing, synthetic chemicals found in pesticides can detrimentally interfere with normal bodily processes, including development of the brain, affecting the ability of children to learn.

Because of increasing concern over the use of chemical pesticides at schools, the EPA now encourages schools to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policies. A strong IPM plan relies on the use of safer alternative in lieu of toxic chemicals to control pests. Toxic pesticides are used only as a last resort.
In addition to the EPA’s strong endorsement of safer pest management practices, thirtythree
states around the US have passed laws to minimize pesticide use in schools.

Specifically states have enacted laws eliminating the most toxic chemicals at schools, requiring prior parental notification and the posting of signs when pesticides are to be used, and requiring the implementation of written pesticide use policies.

Survey findings show that although 13% of schools are setting a strong example for pesticide risk minimization by not using any pesticides at all, the vast majority of schools in Vermont need assistance in reducing children’s pesticide exposure. To make schools safer for children in Vermont, VPIRG recommends the following:

• · Schools should adopt policies and procedures to eliminate the most toxic pesticides at schools, notify parents and post signs when pesticides are used, and implement written pesticide use policies.

• · State officials should assist schools in creating safer pest management policies.

•  State officials should provide information to schools and serve as a clearinghouse of information so that schools can learn from other schools’ experiences.

• · State legislation or policies should be considered that would protect children from unnecessary pesticide exposure at school.

• · Parents are encouraged to work with members of their school administration, staff, and other parents to set up and establish pesticide risk minimization policies.