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Chemical Management in Schools
Chemical Management in Schools
October 19th Webcast
Questions and Answers
A: Visit Marc Lame’s “Schools Without Pesticides” website – www.schoolswithoutpesticides.com
– for links and information regarding
verifiable Integrated Pest Management programs, standards and how you can
implement one for your school community.Q: This is a workshop sponsored by EPA, the federal agency charged with registering pesticides. I would like the speaker to expand on his comment about EPA saying pesticides are safe then canceling them.
A: I think it is an outstanding service that the US EPA is sponsoring this type of communication. I must admit I do use pesticides. However, as the Agency and anyone who has read “A Worm in the Teacher’s Apple: Protecting America’s School Children from Pests and Pesticides” knows, I believe there are a number of reasons why children are un-necessarily exposed to the risks of pesticides. Unfortunately the perception promoted by the pest control and pesticide manufacturing industries that products they use or sell are safe to the public, let alone children is a huge impediment to implementing the most safe and effective pest management programs – in the school or home
In fact, when registered by the US EPA pesticides are judged adequate within and based on current scientific standards. Further, I believe that FIFRA allows health based standards to be superseded (subverted?) in favor of economic considerations (mostly in agriculture).
My “precautionary” statement is that science changes. Thus, many pesticides thought safe enough at time of registration were later determined to have exceeded health based standards and discontinued or banned. My observation is it takes the US EPA several decades to discontinue or ban a pesticide for reasons of scientific technology, data gathering, bureaucracy and, no doubt, political pressure.
Therefore, I regard any currently registered pesticide as susceptible to someday exceeding health based standards…and putting children at risk. I am very “precautious” regarding the use of any pesticide, accessing alternative methods and balancing the risk of not controlling a particular pest.
Q: Should we, as inspectors, recommend school maintenance staff remove aerosol pesticides found in the custodial storage?
A: Basically yes. Inspectors should recommend that unlicensed personnel (PCO - Pest Control Operator’s license from the state) not be allowed to storage or use ANY pesticide on school property. Further, I do not believe any unlicensed contractor (pest control technician working under the proxy of a branch PCO) is qualified to apply toxics in schools or childcare facilities.
Q: Marc mentioned not using “harsh” chemicals, do they lean toward “environmentally friendly” products, if there is such in the industry? Can "environmental friendly" products be used instead of the "harsh" chemicals?
A: “Least Toxic” is always the best choice for effective pesticides. There are a number of them available these days. However, even “non-toxic” pesticides should not be used as a substitute for prevention strategies. Remember IPM is about “not attracting pests”, “keeping them out of schools” and “controlling infestations in a safe, cost effective manner” DO NOT become pesticide dependent. So many programs I have observed are not IPM but rather, bait substitution programs…relying on less toxic pesticides than the harsh chemicals associates with pesticides. Either way, pesticides normally do not prevent pests…they kill pests.
Would you rather prevent a heart attack by not smoking, eating right and exercising…or resort to medicine (drugs and or surgery) once you have heart problems? Pro-action verses Reaction. If you want to know more on this subject, I have lots of stuff on this in “A Worm in the Teacher’s Apple: Protecting America’s School Children from Pests and Pesticides”.
Q: Our area had IPM in our schools handled by a pest company so they would resort to chemical use quite often. Now we have a pesticide bylaw that is city-wide and includes all schools. An ecological organization/service now is the gatekeeper. Things are going better. Just thought you would like to know.
A: “Pest management is People management” a verifiable IPM policy and contract is critical to really protecting the school community from the risks presented by pests and pesticides.