Toxic Free News - Summer 2005

Children spend 30 - 50% of their time at school during the academic year. Because their bodies are small and still developing, children are especially susceptible to long-term health damage from exposure to toxicants in their everyday environment.

Recently, statewide legislation has been introduced to protect children from toxics at school. The School Children's Health Act would require public schools in our state to reduce the risk of student and staff exposures to five toxic contaminants: pesticides, exhaust from idling school buses, elemental mercury, arsenic-treated wood, and mold & mildew.

Specifically, the legislation directs schools to do the following:

* Adopt a recommended model Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy in order to reduce pesticide exposures.

* Notify parents and school staff when hazardous pesticides are to be used on school property.

* Establish a school bus exhaust and no idling policy to reduce exposure to diesel fumes.

* Prohibit the future use of arsenic-treated wood, and seal existing arsenic-treated wood and/or develop a timeline for its removal from public school property.

* Ban the use of elemental mercury in classrooms.

* Follow guidelines for mold and mildew prevention when building new school facilities.

The bill also directs the State Board of Education to adopt guidelines to assist schools in accomplishing these goals.

The bill’s sponsors are Grier Martin (Wake), Marian McLawhorn (Pitt), and Marvin Lucas (Cumberland). The NC House passed H 1502 unanimously on May 24, 2005 (as we go to press, the bill is currently being considered by the NC Senate for final passage).

More information and take action!

Toxic Free News is a publication of
Toxic Free North Carolina
206 New Bern Place, Raleigh, NC 27601, (919) 833-5333, Toll-free 1-877-NO-SPRAY
http://www.toxicfreenc.org

Mission: Toxic Free NC advocates for alternatives to toxic pesticides in North Carolina by empowering people to make sound decisions about their health and environment.

Staff: Executive Director: Fawn Pattison, Program Coordinator: Billie Karel
Interns: Jessica Conser, Lauren Livingston, Karl Macklin.

Board of Directors: Allen Spalt, President; Katherine M. Shea, Vice President; Jane Sharp MacRae, Secretary; Mary Jo Windley; Cindy Soehner; Colleen Boudreau; Michelle Nowlin; Annette Hiatt; Billie Rogers, Emeritus.