Here are the 15 Ventura County schools that have the most pesticides sprayed within 11/2 miles of campus

1. MESA ELEMENTARY

Somis

Total Pesticides: 147,630 lbs.

Crops: Primarily lemons, some carrots

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 125,913 lbs.

Glyphosate

isopropylamine salt: 5,228 lbs.

Copper sulfate 3,108 lbs.

Metam-sodium 3,011 lbs.

Methyl bromide 2,088 lbs.

Chlorpyrifos 1,979 lbs.

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2. RIO MESA HIGH

El Rio

Total Pesticides: 130,619 lbs.

Crops: Strawberries, lemons, some celery

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 67,491 lbs.

Petroleum oil 22,590 lbs.

Chloropicrin 16,788 lbs.

Thiram 3,027 lbs.

Sulfur 2,563 lbs.

Captan 2,176 lbs.

Chlorothalonil 1,972 lbs.

Parathion 1,622 lbs.

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3. RIO PLAZA ELEMENTARY

El Rio

Total Pesticides: 129,007 lbs.

Crops: Primarily strawberries, some lemons

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 79,517 lbs.

Chloropicrin 17,567 lbs.

Captan 5,500 lbs.

Poly-I-Para-Menthene 4,753 lbs.

Petroleum oil 4,192 lbs.

Sulfur 3,602 lbs.

Thiram 3,273 lbs.

Iprodione 2,147 lbs.

Parathion 1,622 lbs.

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4. LAGUNA VISTA ELEMENTARY

Oxnard

Total Pesticides: 106,972 lbs.

Crops: Lemons, strawberries

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 76,963 lbs.

Methyl bromide 12,996 lbs.

Chloropicrin 4,400 lbs.

Glyphosate

isopropylamine salt 2,331 lbs.

Copper hydroxide 1,694 lbs.

Chlorpyrifos 1,442 lbs.

Thiram 1,387 lbs.

Methaldehyde 1,355 lbs.

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5. LOS PRIMEROS STRUCTURED ELEMENTARY

Camarillo

Total Pesticides: 99,490 lbs.

Crops: Lemons, strawberries, some cabbage, celery and lettuce

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 32,722 lbs.

Methyl bromide 24,765 lbs.

Chloropicrin 10,472 lbs.

Chlorthal-Dimethyl 3,890 lbs.

Copper sulfate 3,411 lbs.

Calcium hydroxide 2,884 lbs.

Methomyl 1,716 lbs.

Diazinon 1,626 lbs.

Chlorothalonil 1,471 lbs.

Maneb 1,420 lbs.

Thiram 1,135 lbs.

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6. BLANCHARD ELEMENTARY

Santa Paula

Total Pesticides: 82,873 lbs.

Crops: Primarily lemons, some oranges

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 64,004 lbs.

Methyl bromide 12,492 lbs.

Copper sulfate 1,923 lbs.

Glyphosate isopropylamine salt 1,745 lbs.

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7. BRIGGS ELEMENTARY

Santa Paula

Total Pesticides: 82,873 lbs.

Crops: Primarily lemons, some oranges

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 64,004 lbs.

Methyl bromide 12,492 lbs.

Copper sulfate 1,923 lbs.

Glyphosate isopropylamine salt 1,745 lbs.

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8. RIO LINDO ELEMENTARY

Oxnard

Total Pesticides: 82,112 lbs.

Crops: Strawberries

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 55,569 lbs.

Chloropicrin 19,950 lbs.

Captan 2,131 lbs.

Sulfur 1,872 lbs.

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9. LINDA VISTA JUNIOR ACADEMY

El Rio

Total Pesticides: 78,603 lbs.

Crops: Primarily strawberries, some lemons

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 53,920 lbs.

Chloropicrin 10,104 lbs.

Sulfur 2,462 lbs.

Thiram 2,167 lbs.

Captan 1,991 lbs.

Parathion 1,622 lbs.

Petroleum oil 1,222 lbs.

Iprodine 1,184 lbs.

Carbaryl 506 lbs.

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10. RIO REAL ELEMENTARY

El Rio

Total Pesticides: 73,083 lbs.

Crops: Primarily strawberries, some lemons

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 39,524 lbs.

Chloropicrin 12,068 lbs.

Poly-I-Para-Methene 4,620 lbs.

Captan 3,976 lbs.

Petroleum oil 3,816 lbs.

Sulfur 1,986 lbs.

Thiram 1,386 lbs.

Anilazine 1,257 lbs.

Iprodione 1,238 lbs.

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11. RIO DEL VALLE JUNIOR HIGH

El Rio

Total Pesticides: 73,083 lbs.

Crops: Primarily strawberries, some lemons

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 39,524 lbs.

Chloropicrin 12,068 lbs.

Poly-I-Para-Methene 4,620 lbs.

Captan 3,976 lbs.

Petroleum oil 3,816 lbs.

Sulfur 1,986 lbs.

Thiram 1,386 lbs.

Anilazine 1,257 lbs.

Iprodione 1,238 lbs.

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12. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ELEMENTARY

Oxnard

Total Pesticides: 71,777 lbs.

Crops: Primarily strawberries, some onions

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 41,641 lbs.

Chloropicrin 15,344 lbs.

Metam-Sodium 7,967 lbs.

Captan 1,663 lbs.

Sulfur 1,026 lbs.

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13. EL RIO ELEMENTARY

El Rio

Total Pesticides: 69,980 lbs.

Crops: Lemons, strawberries

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 40,679 lbs.

Methyl bromide 19,162 lbs.

Chloropicrin 6,336 lbs.

Chlorpyrifos 1,060 lbs.

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14. SATICOY ELEMENTARY

Saticoy

Total Pesticides: 66,493 lbs.

Crops: Primarily lemons, some carrots, oranges and nursery plants

Pesticides:

Petroleum oil 52,668 lbs.

Methyl bromide 3,529 lbs.

Metam-sodium 2,925 lbs.

Copper sulfate 1,507 lbs.

Glyphosate isopropylamine salt 1,152 lbs.

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15. ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY

Oxnard

Total Pesticides: 61,203 lbs.

Crops: Strawberries

Pesticides:

Methyl bromide 41,641 lbs.

Chloropicrin 15,344 lbs.

Captan 1,663 lbs.

Sulfur 1,026 lbs.

Source: Environmental Working Group

GLOSSARY: PESTICIDES USED MOST NEAR VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS

Anilazine: A low-toxic fungicide used to protect strawberries, celery and other field crops from leaf spots and fungi.

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Calcium hydroxide: A hydrated lime commonly used as a soil additive and as a carrier for pesticides. Generally considered safe.

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Captan: A low-toxic fungicide used increasingly on strawberries to kill molds, mildew and other plant parasites--and to make the fruit look healthier. Listed by EPA as a probable human carcinogen that can affect hormone production. Banned by the EPA on more than 40 different crops. Use on strawberries locally has increased from 9,200 lbs. in 1992 to 47,589 lbs. in 1995.

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Carbaryl: A moderate to highly toxic insecticide that controls over 100 species of pests on citrus, fruit and other crops. Can produce adverse effects in humans. Inhalation of large amounts can result in nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Listed by EPA as a possible human carcinogen that can disrupt production of hormones and destroy nerve tissue.

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Chloropicrin: A highly toxic gas mixed with methyl bromide to sterilize strawberry fields before planting and to give off a tell-tale odor to warn of odorless methyl bromide vapors. A tear gas similar to that used by riot police. At high levels it can cause breathing difficulty and tightness in the chest. Ranked 3rd among pesticides locally.

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Chlorpyrifos: A moderately toxic insecticide used on field, fruit, nut and vegetable crops. A skin and eye irritant and can cause headaches, numbness, dizziness, tremors, nausea, sweating, stomach cramps, blurred vision, breathing problems and nerve damage.

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Chlorothalonil: A moderately toxic fungicide used to control pests that threaten vegetables, trees, small fruits and other farm crops. Can cause severe eye and skin irritations. Listed by EPA as a probable human carcinogen. Ranked 6th among pesticides locally.

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Chlorthal-Dimethyl: A moderately toxic weed-killer used heavily on broccoli and onions. Listed by the EPA as a possible human carcinogen. Can disrupt production of hormones.

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Copper hydroxide: A low-toxic fungicide sprayed on a variety of crops, including citrus and strawberries to prevent rot during winter. Can cause eye damage.

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Copper sulfate: A highly toxic pesticide used to control bacteria and fungi--including mildew, leaf spots and blights-- on fruit, vegetable, nut and field crops. Also kills slugs and snails. Highly caustic to skin and eyes and has been swallowed in human suicides. Has disrupted hormone production and harmed testes in animals. Ranked 7th among pesticides locally.

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Diazinon: A moderate to slightly toxic insecticide used on fruit trees and plants to fight a variety of sucking and leaf-eating insects. Can affect nervous system. Symptoms from poisoning include headaches, nausea, tightness in chest and blurred vision. The EPA canceled use on golf courses and sod farms in 1988 because of bird deaths.

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Glyphosate isopropylamine salt: A moderately toxic weed-killer used on a wide variety of crops. Can cause eye and skin irritation. Ranked 5th among pesticides locally.

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Iprodione: A slightly toxic fungicide used in combination with other pesticides to kill spores and stop growth of fungus on vegetables, flowers and other crops. Listed by EPA as a probable human carcinogen.

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Maneb: Practically nontoxic, this fungicide is used to control blight on fruits, vegetables, field crops and flowers. Listed by EPA as probable human carcinogen. Also disrupts production of hormones.

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Metam-sodium: A highly toxic soil fumigant used widely on fruits and vegetables across the state. Listed by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen. A potential replacement for the more toxic methyl bromide after its ban in 2001. Ranked 4th among pesticides locally.

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Methaldehyde: A moderate to slightly toxic molluscicide used to kill slugs and snails in a variety of vegetable and ornamental crops, on fruit trees, small-fruit plants, citrus or avocado orchards and berry plants. Can be fatal to animals if eaten. Irritation of skin, eye, nose and intestines may result from contact.

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Methomyl: A highly toxic insecticide that kills worms and aphids to protect leaves of vegetables, fruits, field crops and flowers. Can harm human nervous system and disrupt production of hormones.

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Methyl bromide: A highly volatile and toxic soil fumigant used as the main pesticide for strawberries. Also used on almonds, vegetables, grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, in plant nurseries and crops for export. A nerve gas linked to 1,000 poisonings in U.S and banned after 2001 because of damage to the ozone layer. Can cause headaches, vomiting, dizziness, weakness in arms and legs, breathing problems and has caused birth defects in rats and rabbits. Ranked 2nd among pesticides locally.

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Petroleum oil: A low toxic, very thin petroleum-based oil used in citrus orchards to suffocate red and black scales, insects that suck nutrients from tree limbs. Ranked 1st among pesticides locally.

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Poly-I-Para-Methene: A widely used pesticide additive with 700,000 pounds applied statewide and 15,807 pounds locally in 1995.

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Sulfur: A low-toxic fungicide used to control mildew on crops including strawberries, beans, carrots and roses. Poses very little, if any, risk to human and animal health, and at low levels is generally recognized as safe. Used in organic farming as well.

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Thiram: A slightly toxic fungicide used to protect fruit, vegetables, flowers and other crops. Acute exposure may cause flu-like symptoms, including nausea, dizziness, headaches and diarrhea. Also can disrupt production of hormones.

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Sources: Extension Toxicology Network archived at Oregon State University. Environmental Working Group, Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.