Organization Urges Schools to Use Natural Pesticides

A consumer watchdog group Wednesday urged school officials to consider natural pesticides, rather than chemicals, when fighting termites or other insects and spraying campuses to control weeds.

The nonprofit California Public Interest Research Group released a report showing that 87% of 54 school districts surveyed statewide use one or more of 27 chemical pesticides that are classified as potential carcinogens and harmful to human development of hormone, reproductive and nervous systems.

“These are toxic agents,” said Dr. Kirk Murphy, a group activist and a clinical instructor at the UCLA School of Medicine.

Irvine Unified was the only Orange County school district included in the survey.

At a news conference at University Park Elementary in Irvine, Murphy said, “We’re calling on the government to ban the use of toxic chemicals. There should be a greater commitment to the students rather than to the companies producing these toxic pesticides.”

Irvine school officials said toxic chemicals are used minimally at their schools. When chemicals are applied, it is during the summer or other school breaks when children are off campus, they said.

“We do use some toxic chemicals,” said Tim Marsh, Irvine Unified’s director of maintenance and operations. “But if you are going to build a structure with wood in it, you must assume the termites are going to have lunch. And there is no nonchemical product to fight termites that is cost effective.”

The report cited 15 toxic chemicals from its list of 27 that are used in Irvine schools. Among them are Bait Blocks, a poison for rodent control; Orthene, used to eliminate aphids and other pests on shrubs; and Waxie Bug-off Ant and Roach Kill.

Marsh said those agents are used safely. The rodent poison is placed under school buildings and attics, he said. And only 1 pound of Orthene was used for the district of 22,000 students last year.

Waxie is applied in a potency equal to that of aerosol roach sprays sold in drugstores, he said. State and federal guidelines mandate that schools provide proper ventilation and test air quality before allowing students to return to school after pesticides are used, Marsh said, adding, “We meet all regulations and generally exceed them.”

The report applauded two school districts--Arcata in Humboldt and Los Angeles Unified--for using some nonchemical products to control pests.