Protecting
Children from Pesticides
A guide for North Carolina Childcare Providers
Download a printer-friendly PDF of this brochure (2.7 MB)
Kids and
Pesticides Don’t Mix
Because children are still growing, and because many of
the risks of pesticide exposure are still unknown, prevention
is the best medicine!
Removing toxic chemicals from our homes, childcare centers,
and schools whenever possible is the best way to prevent
exposure and prevent harm to children.
For more advice about least-toxic alternatives to pesticides for homes, daycares, or schools, visit Toxic Free NC on line at www.toxicfreenc.org, or call us at: 1-877-NO-SPRAY.
Children
Are Not Little Adults!
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Pound for pound, kids breathe more, drink more, and eat more than adults, so they take in more toxics like pesticides that pollute their air, water, and food.
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Babies and small children also take in toxics when playing close to the ground or putting things in their mouths.
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For years after birth, children’s bodily systems are still developing, so it is more difficult for their bodies to process and break down toxics.
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From birth through the teen years, all the major body systems go through “growth spurts.” During these critical periods of growth, exposure to toxic chemicals like pesticides can result in serious problems with health and development.
Pesticides Can Harm Health
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Pesticides can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate allergies and other respiratory problems.
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Pesticides may increase risk of infertility, stillbirth, mental and emotional problems, certain types of cancer, and birth defects.
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Children in areas where pesticide use is common have been shown to suffer from neurological problems such as poor hand-eye coordination, lack of stamina, and difficulty concentrating, compared to children from areas where pesticides are not used.
Prevent Indoor Pests
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Don’t feed the pests! Clean up spills and crumbs around your kitchen, empty the trash every day, and don’t leave dirty dishes out.
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Don’t water the pests! Fix leaky pipes and plumbing, and clean your gutters often to make sure water drains away from the building.
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Don’t let pests inside! Put screens on your windows and doors, and always fix any holes. Seal up cracks and holes with caulk, weather stripping, or steel wool.
Use
Alternatives to Pesticides
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Wipe up ants with soapy water and drown them in the bucket. Wipe up their trails too, so their friends can’t follow them!
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Make your own roach baits by mixing borax powder with a little sugar, chopped onion, cornstarch and water. Then make it into little balls and put a few in a plastic bag near an area with lots of roaches.
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Use sticky traps to catch spiders, crickets, and other crawling insects.
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Get rid of mold and mildew using a mixture of white vinegar, borax, and warm water – then scrub.
Protect Children from Pesticide Drift
Pesticide drift occurs when pesticides move from their site of application to neighboring areas, which may include homes, businesses, roadways, daycares, or other places where people can be exposed.
In the state of North Carolina, pesticide drift from aerial application is illegal within 100 feet of a private home, 300 feet of a public place, or 25 feet of a road.
If you see pesticides being applied nearby,
take these steps to protect yourself:
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Go inside. Take in children, pets, toys, laundry, etc. Close the windows and doors tightly.
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If pesticides drift on to you or your family, remove contaminated clothing and take a shower immediately.
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Get medical attention, even if you do not have any immediate symptoms. Be sure to tell your doctor what happened, and bring labels from the pesticide containers or any other information you can get about the pesticides that drifted.
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In an emergency, call NC Poison Control at 1-800-848-6946, or call 911.
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Call the toll-free Pesticide Drift Hotline at 1-877-NO-SPRAY for free help and more information in English and Spanish.