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Resources by Topic

The following is a wealth of information on school pesticide issue, organized by topic. Scroll down to find your needed resource. Next to each resource you will find the organize that it comes from. See also resources
By organization or state.

How to Organize Your Community
Are you concerned about the pesticide practices taking place in your community and want things to change? You have the power to set in motion a course for positive reforms. Organizing a campaign in your neighborhood is a forceful way to stand up for your right not to be exposed to toxic chemicals. Consider starting a local Beyond Pesticides organization in your community. You may be reeling with enthusiasm for such an endeavor, and perhaps confusion too. How do you start? What exactly do you do to reform pesticide practices once you have set up your organization? The articles and resources below provide concrete advice and ideas about community pesticide activism

Expelling Pesticides from Schools: A how-to guide to reducing pesticide exposure in school*
School Organizing for Safer Pest Management
12 Steps to Healthier Schools
Green Flag Program awards program for student-run environmental achievements
School Health and Safety Committees: How to Promote Child and Adult Environmental Health Protection
Green Squad: an environmental education site for middle-schoolers that shows how to investigate their own school, and publish the results in the school paper
Healthy Schools Pesticide Action Kit  is a comprehensive toolkit for parents and community members on how to get pesticides out of schools and contains several factsheets

 

Strong Integrated Pesticide Management (IPM) Alternatives
A strong integrated pest management (IPM) definition and policy is one of the best ways to minimize or eliminate exposure to pesticides. IPM is a term that is used loosely with many different definitions and methods of implementation. Beyond Pesticides defines IPM as a program of prevention, monitoring, and control which offers the opportunity to eliminate or drastically reduce pesticides, and to minimize the toxicity of and exposure to any products which are used. Education, in the form of workshops, training sessions and written materials, is an essential component of an IPM program. Concrete examples of IPM strategies and pesticide reduction policies include

What is School Integrated Pest Management? (pdf)
Safer Schools: Achieving a Healthy Learning Environment Through Integrated Pest Management*
Are Schools Making the Grade? School districts nationwide adopt safer pest management policies
Schools Save Money with Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management for Schools 
Alternatives Factsheets for specific pests
Safety Source
Sanitizers & Disinfectants Guide (Healthy Schools Network)
Healthier Cleaning and Maintenance Practices and Products for Schools
GAO Report: Use Effects and Alternatives to Pesticides in Schools

 

State and Local Laws
Although two-thirds of the states, or 35 states, have adopted laws that address pesticide use at school, these pesticide use policies and practices remain deficient in the protection of children. Overall, however, the reviewshows prog­ress in the adoption of policies that improve protection of children. Since 1998, in the two most im­portant areas of reform, IPM and chemical restrictions, there is a 24 percent and 22 percent increase, respectively, in state policies. The following review, based on cur­rent state pesticide laws, looks at what the states have done as it affects children and schools, using the following five evaluation criteria: (i) adoption of an integrated pest management (IPM) program; (ii) prohibiting when and where pesticides can be applied; (iii) requiring posting signs for indoor and outdoor pesticide applications; (iv) requiring prior written no­tification for pesticide use; and, (v) establishing restricted spray (buffer) zones to address chemicals drifting into school yards and school buildings. These fivecriteria are all basics not provided for under federal law and are essential ingredients to protect chil­dren from pesticides while they are at school. The degree of state activity suggests a level of concern that can and should lead to increased protection in the future.

School Pesticide Monitor Bimonthly Bulletin Archives
The Schooling of State Pesticide Laws - 2010 Update
Information on the School Environment Protection Act (SEPA), pending federal legislation
State and Local Policies A list of 33 state laws and over 400 school districts that are known to have policies or programs regarding integrated pest management, pesticide bans, and right-to-know; includes summaries and links to copies of state laws and local policies ModelLaws and Policies (BP)
Schooling of State Pesticide Laws 2002 Update *
Schooling of State Pesticide Laws 2000 *
Pest Control Practices in Connecticut Public Schools
Summary of Illinois Healthy Schools Campaign (SPCP)
Summary of Maryland IPM Law
The Children's and Families' Protection Act Implementation Guide: Summary of Massachusetts Law

 

Hazards of Pesticides for Children's Health
Children face higher risks than adults from pesticide exposure due to their small size, their tendency to place their hands close to their face or in their mouth, the activities they engage in on or near the ground, their greater intake of air and food relative to body weight, their developing organ systems, and other unique characteristics. In addition, the probability of an effect such as cancer, which requires a period of time to develop after exposure, is enhanced if exposure occurs early in life. The resources below provide more in-depth information on the hazards of pesticides for children’s health.

Facts and Figures-Pesticides & Schools
48 Most Commonly Used Pesticides in Schools and their health affects
10 Myths About Pesticides in Schools
Growing Up Toxic: Chemical Exposures and Increases in Developmental Disease
Allergies, Asthma & Chemical Sensitivity
Select Studies on Pesticides and Children's Health
School Pesticide Incidents From Around the Country
Forum of articles on school, children and toxins
Protecting Vulnerable Students in "Sick" Schools
Children's Environmental Health at the Minnesota Department of Health
Pesticides in Our Homes and Schools: Are They Dangerous to Our Children? (brochure layout - print and fold)

Other

Protecting Your Health from CCA-Treated Wood (Beyond Pesticides)
Poison Playgrounds: CCA Risks and Alternatives (BP)
Parent Guide to Indoor Air Quality (Healthy Schools Network)
Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good (2001) (Toxics Action Center, MA)
The Children's Health Environmental Coalition

 

Media

Beyond Pesticides PSA on Healthy Schools - Video PSA, YouTube. Children face unique hazards from pesticide exposure. They take in more pesticides relative to their body weight than adults in the food they eat and air they breathe. Their developing organ systems often make them more sensitive to toxic exposure. Fortunately, organic solutions exist to keep you and your children safe.

Earth Share and the Ad Council's PSA on Pesticides in Schools - Audio MP3 file, 60 sec. Eliminating unnecessary toxic pesticide use in and around schools is a precautionary approach to protecting children’s health. A new radio PSA from Earth Share and the Ad Council highlights the dangers of toxic pesticides and ways to protect the health of children. Ask your local radio station to play this PSA. For more information, visit http://www.earthshare.org.

Federal Bill Introduced to Protect Children from School Pesticide Use; New Study Documents State Progress in the Adoption of Safer Practices (December 2, 2009)
Report Documents Safer Schools That Protect Children From Unnecessary Pesticide Exposure (April 17, 2003)
Study Finds Over One-Quarter of U.S. School Districts Adopt Plans to Restrict Children's Exposure to Pesticides (January 6, 2003)
Farm Bill Passes Senate with School Pest Management and Pesticide Right-to-Know Amendment,
Legislation Will Curtail Children’s Pesticide Exposure SEPA reintroduced in Senate Farm Bill (February, 13, 2002)
Education Conference Committee Kills School Pesticide Amendment (November 30, 2001)
Education Conference Committee to Vote on School Pesticide Amendment; Amendment's Sponsor, Senator Torricelli, Issues Document with School Officials' Support (November 30, 2001)
Broad Coalition Urges Education Conference Committee To Protect Children from Pesticides in Schools; Historic Accord Between Environmentalists and Pesticide, Pest Management Industries (November 27, 2001)
Senate Measure to Protect Children from Pesticides in Jeopardy in the House; Historic Public Interest and Industry Agreement Threatened by House Agriculture Committee; Emergency Hearing Scheduled for July 18, 2001 (July 10, 2001)
Children's Pesticide Exposure to be Curtailed Under U.S. Senate Education Bill; Historic Agreement Between Environmental, Health, Education and Labor Groups and Chemical and Pest Management Industry On School Pesticide Use (June 19, 2001)
School Environment Protection Act (SEPA) Introduced to Protect Children From Hazardous Pesticides Used In and Around Schools(October 13, 1999)