Since the mid-1980s, asthma rates in the United States have skyrocketed to epidemic levels, particularly in young children. In the U.S. alone, around 16 million people suffer from asthma. Asthma is a serious chronic disorder of the lungs characterized by recurrent attacks of bronchial constriction, which cause breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma is a dangerous, and in some cases life-threatening disease. Researchers have found that pesticide exposure can induce a poisoning effect linked to asthma.
Jackie, Richie and
Sabrina, children of Dawn and Dennis Helm, are bringing their postcards
to school in Paramus, NJ.
Did You Know?
- Nearly 1 in 8 school-aged children have asthma. This rate is rising most rapidly in pre-school aged children.
- Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. Every year, asthma accounts for 14 million lost days of school.
- Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among those younger than 15 years.
- The number of children dying from asthma increased almost threefold from 1979 to 1996.
- The estimated cost of treating asthma in those younger than 18 years is $3.2 billion per year.
- Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner-cities experience disproportionately high morbidity and mortality due to asthma.
September is the perfect time of year to remind schools that you are concerned about the use of pesticides in their facilities and on their grounds and the effectiveness of non-toxic pest management approaches. To that end, Beyond Pesticides has, with the School Pesticide Reform Coalition, put together a postcard that we would like you to send to your school in an effort to nurture the involvement of health staff.
For more information on the postcard campaign or to download your postcard, see the full action alert here.
Beyond
Pesticides has also developed a 15-page color booklet, Asthma,
Children and Pesticides: What you should know to protect your family.
The booklet examines children's susceptibility to asthma, the differences
between the causes of asthma and asthma triggers, specific pesticides
linked to asthma, the demographics of asthma, tips for controlling pests
linked to asthma without using pesticides and steps you can take to avoid
asthma causes and triggers.
The brochure is available online or by calling Beyond Pesticides, 202-543-5450, for hardcopies.
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