. . . and State Should Work Harder to Cleanse Campuses

Children and toxic pesticides simply don’t mix. Science confirms that children are more vulnerable to the adverse health effects associated with pesticide exposure. That is why the Ventura Unified School District board recently took action to eliminate dangerous pesticides from the district’s classrooms, cafeterias and school grounds.

Ventura Unified should be commended for joining school districts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Arcata, Mendocino and Placer Hills in recognizing that when it comes to our children’s health, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Unfortunately, excessive pesticide use in California schools is the rule rather than the exception.

A 1997 study conducted by the California Public Interest Research Group found that 87% of schools surveyed used pesticides identified by the government as suspected carcinogens, nerve or reproductive toxins.

A National Cancer Institute study found that in homes where pesticides were used once a week, children’s risk of leukemia increased 400%.

In an environment where learning and growing are essential, does it make sense to routinely use chemicals that can compromise the health of our children? Shouldn’t all of our schools learn to control ants with caulk, soapy water and baits instead of broadcast sprays of known carcinogens and reproductive toxins?

Despite pleas from school and health organizations, laws governing the use of especially hazardous pesticides on school campuses are virtually nonexistent. Some 25 years ago, the California Parent-Teacher Assn. urged policymakers to implement safe alternatives to pesticides in schools. A 1992 position statement from the national PTA urged expansion of integrated pest management policies in the schools, stating, “Our nation’s children, because of a variety of age-related factors, are at increased risk of cancer, neuro-behavioral impairment, and other health problems as a result of their exposure to pesticides.”

Our doctors agree.

Last year the California Medical Assn. and the California District IX American Academy of Pediatrics passed resolutions recommending statewide implementation of least toxic school pest management programs which preclude the use of highly toxic pesticides.

Going nontoxic in our schools also makes good economic sense. A survey of 21 Pennsylvania school districts that switched to a pesticide-free pest management program found that not only were they able to control pests without the use of toxic pesticides, they saved money as well.

In an effort to promote healthy schools, Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson last year co-authored Assembly Bill 1207, which proposed eliminating the most hazardous kinds of pesticides from use in and around classrooms. The measure was amended to call for the adoption of a statewide integrated pest management program.

Although this measure failed to gain Gov. Gray Davis’ signature, the governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2000-2001 does contain a multimillion-dollar integrated pest management program for California’s schools.

While we are gratified that Gov. Davis adopted this provision of AB 1207 in his proposed budget, there is still a need to address the problem of allowing the use of pesticides posing known and serious health hazards to our children in our schools.

The Ventura Unified School District should be commended for the steps they are taking toward providing healthy schools for their children. This type of positive change, however, should not take place one school district at a time. We need additional statewide action to eliminate the use of especially hazardous pesticides in our schools so that all of California’s children can enjoy a healthy learning environment.