Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids
New Toxic Free NC report reveals overuse of pesticides in child care

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In April, 2009, Toxic Free NC released Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids, a report on our 2008 survey of pest control in NC child care. Our survey found that baseboard spraying and fogging or bombing - pesticide applications with a high risk of exposure for children and staff - are all too common in NC child care facilities. >>Read the press release. >>Get the report. Not only is this kind of spraying potentially dangerous, it's also unnecessary. Most NC public schools are using kid-safe Integrated Pest Management or IPM instead of high-risk sprays. They report that it works better, and in the long run, costs less. All NC public schools are required to switch to IPM by 2011, thanks to the NC School Children's Health Act which passed in 2006 because of vocal support from concerned citizens like you. Pest control in child care should be 100% kid-safe. Toxic Free NC needs your help to make sure that the youngest and most vulnerable children in our state benefit from safer pest management in their child care. Take action today: Please pass our report and accompanying fact sheet - What Parents and Providers Can Do to Get Kid-Safe Pest Control in Child Care - to parents of young children or child care providers you know. >>Get the report >>Get the fact sheet for parents and child care providers

Pest control in child care should be 100% kid-safe. Take action today to ensure that North Carolina's youngest and most vulnerable children benefit from least-toxic pest control in child care. >>Get the new report from Toxic Free NC - Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids >>Send the report and accompanying fact sheet to parents of young children and/or child care providers you know >>Support our work - donate today!   Back to Spring 2009 issue of Toxic Free News

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2009

Contact:
Billie Karel, 919-833-1123

"AVOIDING BIG RISKS FOR SMALL KIDS"
Report Released Reveals Overuse of Pesticides in NC Child Care

RALEIGH, N.C. – A report released today finds that high-risk pest control methods are used in many North Carolina child care centers. The report, “Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids”, is the result of a 2008 survey of 89 child care providers from across the state who answered questions about pests, pesticides and safety at their facilities. The report is available for download at www.toxicfreenc.org.

More than half of child care providers surveyed (53%) reported that broadcast spraying and/or “bug bombs” are used in their centers. Both methods carry high risk for children and staff to be exposed to toxic pesticides. The report reveals that a child care provider’s star rating does not necessarily reflect whether their facility has serious pest problems. Because state standards do not address what type of pest control program should be used in child care, the star rating system also does not indicate whether a provider is using least-toxic pest management.

Babies and young children are among the most likely age groups to suffer long-term harm to their health from exposure to pesticides. Numerous scientific studies have connected pesticide exposure in early life to an increased risk of asthma, harm to growing brains, and some childhood cancers.

“As a pediatrician and a mother, I believe we should be avoiding the use of toxic chemicals in children’s environments,” says Dr. Katherine Shea. “Child care centers, where our youngest and most vulnerable children spend time eating and sleeping, playing and learning, should be safe and free from known chemical hazards like pesticides.”

The report’s authors recommend the creation of a training and certification program for pest control companies in kid-safe, least toxic methods of pest control, also called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM calls for improved sanitation, structural repairs and monitoring for pests, with least-toxic pesticide application as a last resort. One out of four child care providers surveyed reported using least-toxic or IPM pest control methods; those same centers also reported fewer serious pest problems.

Pest control professional Philip Maready agrees with the report’s recommendation for IPM. “Having worked with public school systems in implementing IPM programs, I believe it is important to use those same IPM strategies in sensitive environments such as day care facilities", Maready said.

Public schools in NC are now required to switch to IPM under the 2006 NC School Children’s Health Act, but no such requirement exists for child care.

Report author Billie Karel said “it is troubling to find that high-risk pesticide applications are used in so many child care facilities in our state. Most child care providers don't have the information they need to make knowledgeable decisions about pest control. We must do a better job of protecting North Carolina’s youngest and most vulnerable children.”

Child care centers in the following counties participated in the survey:  Buncombe, Caldwell, Chatham, Cherokee, Gaston, Guilford, Johnston, Pasquotank, Pender, Robeson, Rockingham, Wake and Wilson.

FIVE QUESTIONS PARENTS SHOULD ASK THEIR CHILD CARE PROVIDER

Based on the survey results, Toxic Free NC recommends that concerned parents ask their child care provider these five questions to find out about their pest management practices:

• Are baseboard spraying or fogging ever used?
• Are pesticides ever used while children are present?
• Do you keep records of pest control activities that parents can access?
• Do you have a pest management policy/contract that calls for least-toxic IPM?
• Do you notify parents in advance of pesticide spraying?

The full report – Avoiding Big Risks for Small Kids – and accompanying resources for parents and child care providers are all available free at www.toxicfreenc.org.