how pesticides are undermining our children’s health & intelligence

A Generation in Jeopardy

How pesticides are undermining our children’s health & intelligence

Kristin Schafer, Policy Director

Yountville, March, 2014

Kids are less healthy

This generation is

experiencing diseases

& disorders their

parents or

grandparents were

unlikely to face.

Children’s Health Harms on the Rise, 1975 - 2011

Kids are less healthy

Developmental disabilities. 400,000 to 600,000 of the

4 million children born each year are affected.

Childhood cancer: Overall incidence up 25% since

1975; leukemia & childhood brain tumors up 40%

and 50%, respectively.

Asthma: More than 7

million now affected,

up from 2 million in 1980.

Pesticides contribute to

childhood health harms

Particularly

compelling data:

Brain & nervous

system.

Certain childhood

cancers.

Kids are exposed to pesticides

where they live, learn & play

Environments we’d like

to consider “safe” —

from womb to

classroom to kitchen

table — often bring

children into contact

with harmful

pesticides.

Kids are exposed to pesticides

where they live, learn & play

Relative to their size,

children eat, breathe

and drink much more

than adults.

Daily exposure =

cumulative &

synergistic effects

Kids are exposed to pesticides

where they live, learn & play

Even at very low levels,

interference from

pesticides at critical

moments can derail

development.

Some effects can last a

lifetime.

Schools, parks & playgrounds

Pesticides often

linger in indoor

environments

Residues on

books, walls,

counters & desks

Schools, parks & playgrounds

Of 40 pesticides most

often used in schools:

28 cancer links

26 reproductive

effects

26 nervous system

harms

13 birth defects

Schools, parks & playgrounds

Herbicide use on

playing fields is

widespread; often a

mixture of active

ingredients

Children pick up

residues on their

clothing, shoes and

hands

Schools, parks & playgrounds

Young children

explore the world in

hands-on ways

Pesticides used on

wooden play

structures and lawns

end up on fingers &

in mouths

Moving toward solutions

School districts, cities and counties across the

country are reducing use of pesticides where

children live, learn and play

Moving toward solutions

CT: Herbicide-free

playgrounds and

fields for daycare &

K-8 since 2005.

NY: Child Safe

Playing Fields Actof

2010, daycare & K-

12

Moving toward solutions

California’s Healthy

Schools Act, 2000

Parent notification

Encourages IPM

using least-toxic

controls

Moving toward solutions

Model IPM

programs:

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Santa Barbara

Palo Altowww.panna.org/green-schools

Moving toward solutions

Strengthened

Healthy Schools Act,

2014 (SB1405)

IPM plan required

Least toxic pest

management

training

Moving toward solutions

Dozens of cities in

Pacific-NW maintain

pesticide-free parks

and playgrounds

Moving toward solutions

Nova Scotia,

Quebec & 100s of

Canadian

municipalities ban

“cosmetic”

pesticide use on

lawns, parks and

playgrounds

Moving toward solutions

“Children cannot make choices about their environment; it is up to adults to

make the right decisions to ensure they are protected.”

- Dr. Lynn Goldman

Resources

panna.org/kids

panna.org/schools

beyondpesticides.org/schools

safelawns.org

sustainableplaces.org