Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids
Results of the 2008 NC Child Care Pest Control Survey
by Jean Strandberg, Billie Karel and Katherine Mills, MSPH
Published by Toxic Free North Carolina, 2009
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Executive Summary
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Factsheet: What parents and child care providers can do
Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids reports on the findings of Toxic Free NC's survey of 89 child care providers from all across North Carolina about pest control in their facilities. 53% of child care providers who took the survey – that’s more than half – said that broadcast pesticide sprays are used in their facilities.
These broadcast pesticide application methods, including baseboard spraying and fogging or “bug bombs,” are not the safest options for child care. They carry a significant risk that children or staff will be exposed to pesticides. Ongoing exposure to pesticide residues in children has been connected with many health risks, including asthma attacks, learning difficulties, and some forms of cancer.
What’s more, widespread pesticide use is unnecessary. Public schools in North Carolina are switching to kid-safe pest management that dramatically reduces the risks to children, and it’s cost-effective too.
Executive Summary
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank our reviewers for their thoughtful feedback on this report, our partners for their assistance with the NC Child Care Pest Control Survey, and each of the 89 child care providers – from Murphy to Manteo – who took the time out of their hectic work days to participate in our survey. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed their time and expertise to the survey and this report, and to the funders who made this work possible.
Reviewers
Tory Borne; Ghassan Hamra, MSPH; June Locklear; Genevieve R. Megginson, M.Ed.; Godfrey Nalyanya, Ph.D.; Fawn Pattison; Katherine M. Shea, MD, MPH; Mike Waldvogel, Ph.D.
Sponsoring Partners
County & Regional agencies: Albemarle Smart Start Partnership, Chatham County Partnership for Children, Guilford County Partnership for Children, Partnership For Children Johnston County, Partnership for Children of Lincoln & Gaston Counties, Pender County Partnership for Children, Region A Partnership for Children, Robeson County Partnership for Children, Rockingham County Partnership for Children, Smart Start of Buncombe County, Smart Start of Caldwell County, Wake County Smart Start, and the Wilson County Partnership for Children.
Statewide agencies: Action for Children North Carolina, NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center, NC Division of Child Development, and the NC State University Integrated Pest Management for North Carolina Schools Program.
Financial support for this project was provided by: The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, The Educational Foundation of America, the Harris & Frances Block Foundation, Southern Partners Fund, and many individual supporters of Toxic Free North Carolina.
In-kind support for this project was provided by: Burt’s Bees, Greensboro Children’s Museum, Learning Express, Marbles Kids Museum, Raleighwood Cinema Grill, Seventh Generation, and Whole Foods Market Cary.
The opinions expressed in Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the reviewers, sponsoring partners or funders.
Quick Links
Download the full report (PDF format, 1 MB)
Executive Summary
Press Release
Factsheet: What parents and child care providers can do
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