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Pesticide Illness in Schools

Illness Cases | Prevention | Pesticide Rules | Drift

Pesticide exposure among children and school staff has been well documented. Children are uniquely susceptible to pesticides because of their rapid growth and development, metabolic capabilities, physical size, and behavior. The best way to prevent pesticide exposure is to use an integrated pest management approach when controlling pests and understanding the rules for pesticide use.

Illness Cases

National Data - The 2005 Journal of the American Medical Association article, Acute Illnesses Associated with Pesticide Exposure at Schools, identified 2,593 pesticide-related illnesses at schools nationwide over a 5-year period. The study found that:

• 70% of the exposures were from pesticides applied on school grounds. These incidents occurred when custodians or gardeners were accidentally exposed to pesticide during application, pesticides drifted into school buildings from a nearby or adjacent outdoor application, or when children inhaled residual pesticide after entering treated buildings or grounds.

• 30% of the cases involved exposures to pesticides that had drifted into schools from neighboring farmland.

• Most illnesses were associated with insecticides (35%), disinfectants (32%), repellents (13%), or herbicides (11%).

• Reported symptoms included skin and eye irritation, coughing and other respiratory effects, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and allergic and asthmatic reactions. Most of these were classified as mild and resolved without medical treatment.

State Data - Between 2000-2006, there were 15 reported pesticide-exposure incidents involving 43 ill people at schools in Washington. Eighteen were children and 25 were adults. A few examples of these incidents include:

• An unlicensed school employee applied an herbicide to a school parking lot and sidewalk just before school started. Notices and warning signs were not posted. Several students and faculty members became ill after exposure to the vapors from the application. Students and employees were evacuated from the facility.

• Nine teachers and 15 students reported mild symptoms after a nearby aerial application to a potato field. The application occurred shortly before staff and students arrived. Pesticide residues were found around the buildings.

• 24 children and their bus driver were exposed to insecticide on their way home from school. Spray drift came through their school bus windows from an aerial application to a field adjacent to the road. Two individuals experienced health effects. Samples collected from inside the bus were positive for pesticide residues.

Illness Prevention

The best way to prevent pesticide exposure is to limit the use of pesticides. Practice integrated pest management and always choose the least hazardous method to control pests. To help minimize or prevent pesticide exposure:

• Don't apply pesticides when staff or students are at school.

• Use gels, baits, and other formulations that can be applied in places that are inaccessible to children.

• Use products that stay where they are applied. Avoid products that cause the pesticide to become airborne, such as aerosols and products that volatilize.

• If a pesticide is used indoors, be sure to thoroughly ventilate the area before allowing re-entry and follow the label's instructions about re-entry time.

• If an odor is present after the recommended ventilation time, ventilate again before allowing students or staff back in.

• Pesticide applicators must be appropriately trained and/or licensed. They should follow all instructions and restrictions specified on the label.

• All posting and notification rules must be followed so that students and staff can avoid treated areas and have access to more information. Post notices stating the day and time when a pesticide application is planned.

• If a pesticide product must be used, use the least toxic product possible.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safer and usually less costly option for effective pest control in a school environment. An IPM approach involves monitoring for pests, and integrating physical, mechanical, biological and, if necessary, chemical methods to achieve long-term control. While pesticides may be used, the IPM approach seeks to first change the conditions which allow pests to survive and thrive. For example, cockroach and rodent control would include maintaining good sanitation practices around kitchens and garbage cans, and repairing holes and cracks where rodents and insects can enter. Schools are encouraged to adopt IPM practices to reduce children's exposure to pesticides. For more information, see UPEST's School IPM and EPA's IPM in Schools.

The Department of Health and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction support the use of IPM to help keep schools safe and healthy.

• School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual (PDF 1MB) - see page 75.

• Health and Safety Guide for K-12 Schools in Washington (PDF 1MB) - see page 45.

Pest and Pesticide Rules For Schools

School Buildings - Chapter 246-366-050 WAC

• The premises and all buildings shall be free of insects and rodents of public health significance and conditions which attract, provide harborage and promote propagation of vermin.

• All poisonous compounds shall be easily identified, used with extreme caution and stored in such a manner as to prevent unauthorized use or possible contamination of food and drink.

Pesticide Application and Schools - RCW 17.21.415

Schools and daycares in Washington state are required to have a written pest control policy, notify interested parents before pesticides are used indoors or outdoors, and post all areas treated with a pesticide. This law is intended to help reduce or eliminate the possibility of student or staff exposure to pesticides. Resources to help comply with the law include:

• Compliance Guide for the use of Pesticides at Public School (K-12) and Licensed Day-Care Centers (PDF 588KB)

• Pesticide Notification and Records Inspection Check List (PDF 92KB)

Pesticide Drift

Factors that contribute to hazardous pesticide drift include windy conditions, temperature inversions, the use of highly toxic and volatile pesticides, and using equipment that produces fine sprays. Most agricultural pesticide labels include the following warning: "Do not apply this product in a way that it contacts workers or other persons either directly or through drift." This warning makes it illegal for a nearby farm to cause pesticide drift anywhere people are likely to be exposed, including onto school property.

Prevent Drift - Pesticide applicators must follow instructions on the label about preventing drift and shouldn't spray near schools when:

• Application equipment creates fine sprays that are prone to drift or the product is volatile.

• Wind is variable or blowing towards the school or daycare facility.

• Children are present or will be present the day following pesticide application. Farmers and other pesticide applicators are encouraged to contact area schools to obtain the calendar of events and sport activities scheduled to occur outside of normal school hours.

If Drift Occurs

• Turn off school ventilation system, close windows, and keep students and staff inside.

• Contact the applicator to stop the application. Request information about the ingredients in the spray.

• Report the incident immediately to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, 1-877-301-4555, for investigation and enforcement. They can also assist in identifying the pesticides applied.

• Contact the local fire department HAZMAT team for advice on hazard assessment and whether evacuation should be considered.

• For health advice, contact your local health department or the following:

  • Washington State Department of Health, Pesticide Program: 1-877-485-7316 (Monday-Friday, 8-5)

  • Washington Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222

  • National Pesticide Information Center: 1-800-858-7378

  • Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, UW: 1-877-543-2436

• Notify parents about the incident.

• Irrigate the grounds and wash down playground equipment before children reenter the play areas. Replace air filters on the ventilation system.