Overview
Pesticides
move off the target site when they are sprayed, whether inside or outside.
When sprayed outside pesticides drift on to nearby property resulting
in off target residues. Buffer zones can eliminate exposure from spray
drift on to school property. As a result, states require buffer zones
around schools. In order to adequately protect against drift, buffer
zones should, at a minimum, be established in a 2 mile radius around
the school’s property. Aerial applications should have a larger
buffer zone, at least 3 miles encircling the school. Buffer zones should
be in effect at all times of the day. It is especially important for
spray restrictions to be in place during commuting times and while students
and employees are on school grounds.
State
Information
Methyl
bromide application, schools within 300 feet, completed 36 hours prior
to start of school day.
II. Posting
Notification Signs for Indoor Pesticide Applications
Overview
States
use different approaches in providing school pesticide use information
to parents, students and staff. Some forms include the posting of notification
signs and/or the distribution of notices directly to the affected population.
Posted notification signs warn those in the school when and where pesticides
have been or are being applied. This is a vehicle for basic right-to-know
if the posting occurs in an area where it is easily seen by parents,
students and staff. It is important to post signs for indoor pesticide
applications because of the extensive period of time students and school
employees spend at school. Signs posted prior to commencement of the
pesticide application, not after, are more protective. The prior notification
system effectively enables people to take precautionary action. Because
of the residues left behind after an application, signs should remain
posted for at least 72 hours. It takes time for pesticides to start
breaking down and some pesticide residues can least for weeks. Signs
should also be posted at all main entrances of the building and the
specific area sprayed, on the main bulletin board, and, for more comprehensive
notification, in the school newspaper or on the daily announcements.
Posted signs should state when and where a pesticide is applied, the
name of the pesticide applied and how to get further information, such
as a copy of the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and the product(s)
label.
State
Information
California
law requires signs to be posted for 24 hours prior to indoor school
pesticide applications and remain for 72 hours.
III. Posting
Notification Signs for Outdoor Pesticide Applications
Overview
For
a wider range of protection, states should require posting pesticide
notification signs for outdoor pesticide applications as well. Students
who play sports or people continually on the lawns represent a high
risk when applications occur on school property. Dermal exposure can
occur when a football player gets tackled, a soccer player slides to
make a block or a student sits on the grass to eat lunch or watch a
game. Inhalation exposure can occur when a player breathes in kicked
up dust and dirt and pesticide residues. Even spectators at a game or
passersby face inhalation exposure to pesticides that volatilize or
vaporize off the treated area.
State
Information
California
law requires signs to be posted 24 hours prior to outdoor pesticide
applications and remain for 72 hours.
IV. Prior
Written Notification
Written
notification of pesticide use is a good way to make sure that all parents,
children and staff are aware and warned of pesticide use in the schools.
Limited notification-based registries is a less effective means of notifying
people and does not qualify as true right-to-know because of its limited
scope. Requiring that individuals place themselves on registries, sometimes
only with a doctor’s letter, afford only those who already know
about toxic exposure the opportunity to be informed about pesticide
use in the school. Prior notification should be 72 hours in advance
to make sure the information has been received, to get further information
regarding the pesticide and to make arrangements to avoid the exposure,
if necessary. Notification should include the name of the pesticide(s),
a summary of the adverse health effects listed on the Material Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS) and label, the day and time, and area of the application
and how to obtain a copy of the MSDS and label.
State
Information
California
law requires schools to establish a parent and staff registry which,
provides 72 hour advance written notification of pesticide applications.
V. Prohibitions
on Use
Overview
Limiting
when and what pesticides are applied in and around schools is important
to the reduction of pesticide exposure. Pesticides should never be applied
when students or employees are in the area or may be in the area within
24 hours of the application. Seven states specifically state restrict
the type and timing of pesticides that may be used in a school. In reality,
certain types of pesticides, such as carcinogens, endocrine disrupters,
reproductive toxins, developmental toxins, neurotoxins, persistent compounds
and substances, bioaccumulative compounds and substances, toxicity category
1 acutely toxic pesticides and ground water contaminants should not
be used around children.
State
Information
No
conditional, interim, experimental or new active ingredients/pesticides.
VI. Integrated
Pest Management
Overview
A good
integrated pest management (IPM) program can eliminate the unnecessary
application of synthetic, volatile pesticides in schools. The main elements
of a good IPM program include: 1) monitoring to establish whether there
is a pest problem, 2) identifying the causes of the pest problem, 3)
addressing the cause by changing conditions to prevent problems, a summary
of the adverse health effects 4) utilizing pest suppression techniques,
if necessary, that are based on mechanical and biological controls and
5) only after non-toxic alternatives have been tried and exhausted,
use the least toxic pesticide. An IPM policy should include a written
policy guide and a prohibited and acceptable materials list. Material
that could be considered after using other methods include boric acid
and disodium octoborate tetrahydrate, silica gels, diatomaceous earth,
insect growth regulators, insect and rodent baits in tamper resistant
containers or for crack and crevice placement only, microbe-based insecticides,
botanical insecticides (not including synthetic pyrethriods) without
toxic synergists, and biological (living) control agents.
State
Information
California
law recommends schools to adopt an IPM policy. California law has a
comprehensive definition of IPM and allows only the least toxic pesticide
to be used as a last resort.
COPY
OF STATE SCHOOL PESTICIDE LAW
Healthy
Schools Act 2000
LOCAL
SCHOOL PESTICIDE PROGRAMS
Arcata,
City of
Date Passed: February 2000
IPM: The city is developing an an ordinance that would ban the
use of pesticides on city property and create a Pest Control Management
Plan. Until such time as the Pest Control Management Plan is approved,
the City shall endeavor to implement the policy of the city to avoid
the use of pesticides "as reasonably as practicable."
Fremont
Unified School District
Date Passed: No offical policy.
IPM: The school district has no policy but they have been using
internal IPM protocols for the past four or five years. They use pesticides
only if absolutely needed and only use pesticides having a caution label
or less. Spraying is limited to weekends, no pesticides are used in
buildings and spraying will not be done above ground level.
Contact: Fred Okal, Supervisor, Phone: (510) 657-0693
Larkspur
School District (start page 117)
Date Passed: August 2001
IPM: The District adopted a Least Toxic IPM which gives preference
to non-chemical methods of pest control where pesticides are used as
a last resort. The policy includes a precautionary principal that states:
"when an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or
human health, precautionary measures will be considered."
Posting Notification Signs: Notification signs will be posted
at the application site at least 72 hours in advance and remain for
72 hours after the pesticide application. Products on the Approved List
are exempt from this type of notification.
Prior Written Notification: All staff, students and parents will
receive annual written notification addressing the expected use of pesticides
not on the approved list. Parents may sign up to be on a registry, those
who register will be notified 72 hours in advance, except in emergencies.
Products on the Approved List are exempt from this notification.
Prohibiton of Use: Toxicity Category I or II pesticide products,
pesticides known by the state of California to cause cancer, developmental
or reproductive toxicity (CA Prop 65), any pesticide with an EPA known,
probable or possible human carcinogen, reproductive toxins, endocrine
disruptors are prohibited. Exemptions apply.
School Contact: Larkspur School District, 230 Doherty Drive,
Larkspur, CA 94939
Phone: (415) 927-6960 • Fax: (415) 927-6964
Local Contacts: Marin Beyond Pesticides, PO Box 824, Kentfield, CA 94914. Phone:
(415) 459-1391
http://www.pesticidefreezone.org
Pesticide
Education Group (PEG of Marin), 211 William Avenue, Larkspur,
CA 94939. Phone: (415) 927-7023
Email: PEGOFMARIN@aol.com
Los Angles Unified School District
Date
passed: March 1999
IPM: The districts policy requires implementation of an IPM program
where pesticides are used as a last resort. The policy also establishes
an approved list of pesticides exempt from notification.
Posting Notification Signs: Notifications signs shall be posted
72 hours prior to an application of an unapproved product and remain
posted for five half lives after the application. For emergency applications,
signs are posted at the time of applications.
Prior Written Notification: Universal written notice is given
at the beginning of the year. Schools are required to establish a registry
for all pesticide applications. Parents/guardians and staff shall receive
universal 72 hour prior notification for all products not on the approved
list.
Prohibition of Use: Products that demonstrate the following health
effects: cancer, neurological disruption, birth defects, genetic alteration,
reproductive harm, immune system dysfunction, endocrine disruption,
and acute poisoning are prohibited.
Other: Includes precautionary principle statement, establishes
pest Management Team to determine allowable products and implementation
of policy.
Local Contact: California Safe Schools Coalition, PO
Box 2756, Toluca Lake, CA 91610, www.calisafe.org.
Mendocino Unified
School District
Date Passed: Unknown.
IPM: The district has set up an IPM protocol and do not use any
pesticides because of community awareness.
Notification: See state law above.
Prohibition of Use: See state law above.
Contact: Larry Lance, Maintenance Supervisor, Phone: (707) 937-1603
Nevada
County School District
Date Passed: Unknown
IPM: The school's IPM program gives preference to non-chemical
methods of pest control and uses least toxic chemicals as a last resort.
Posting Notification Signs: Notification signs shall be posted
72 hours in advance and remain for 72 hours after, this applies to non-bait
pesticides as well.
Prior Written Notification: "Through various communication
means" the District will notify students, staff and parents in
advance of applications.
Prohibition of Use: EPA category I and II pesticides, chemicals
known to the state of California to cause cancer, developmental or reproductive
toxicity, pesticides found by the EPA to be known, probable or possible
human carcinogens are prohibited.
Local Contact: The Group for Alternatives to Spreading Poisons,
10984 Ridge Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (916) 265-5001
Novato Unified School District
IPM: The school policy requires the implementation of a least
toxic IPM program that gives preference to non-chemical methods of pest
control followed by the least toxic pesticide.
Notification: See state law above.
Prohibition of Use: Chemicals know to the state of California
to cause cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity (California
Proposition 65) are prohibited. EPA known human carcinogens, reproductive
toxins, developmental toxins or endocrine disrupters are prohibited.
Oakland Unified School District
Date Passed: June 2001
IPM: The school's IPM program focuses on prevention and least
toxic methods for pest control.
Notification: See state law above.
Prohibition of Use: See state law above.
Contact: Coalition for a Healthy Oakland School Environment (CHOSE):
Catherine Porter, Women's Cancer Resource Center, (510) 601-4040 ext.
302
Oxnard
Union High School District
IPM: The policy requires the district to use the safest and
lowest risk approach to controlling pests.
Pine Tree Elementary, Sulphur Springs School District
Date Passed: Unknown
IPM: Adopted a least toxic IPM policy adn has developed an approved
list of least toxic pesticides.
Notification: See state law above.
Other: The school has not needed to post signs or notify parent
and staff in years because of lack of pesticide use. The school also
developed an approved list of pesticides.
Contact: Theresa Tye (parent), Phone: (661) 298-2526, Jim Newnan
(head of maintenance),
Phone: (661) 252-3017
Placer Hills Unified School District
Date Passed: No official policy.
IPM: The school district has a pesticide reduction/IPM program
since 1994. A committee was established for emergency infestations.
Notification: See state law above.
Contact: Ken Poulsen, Superintendent, Phone: (530) 878-2606
San Francisco Unified School District (pages 25-26)
Date Passed: January 1, 1999
IPM: The school policy requires non-chemical methods of pest
control shall be given priority and "reduced risk pesticides"
shall be used as a last resort.
Posting of Notification Signs: Notifications signs shall be posted
at all areas treated with non-bait pesticides. The signs shall be posted
72 hours before and remain 72 hours after pesticide applications.
Prior Written Notification: Written universal notification shall
be given to all students, parents, and staff for non-bait pesticide
applications. Written notification of the school district's IPM plan
shall be given to parents and staff at beginning of the school year.
Prohibition of Use: Toxicity category I and II pesticides, and
pesticides identified by California as chemicals known to cause cancer,
developmental or reproductive toxicity pursuant to California Proposition
65. U.S. EPA known, probable and possible human carcinogens prohibited.
Only pesticides identified by the San Francisco Department of Environment
as "reduced risk pesticides" may be used.
Contact: John
Bitoff, Director Facilities Management. Phone: 415-695-5546
San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education, 555 Franklin
Street, Room 106,
San Francisco, CA 94102 415 241-6493 Fax: 415 241-6429
San Jose Unified School District
IPM: The school district has a written policy that includes posting,
switching from calendar spraying to an IPM program. However they still
spray a lot and contract out with a company.
Contact: Tim Kelly, Grounds Administrator, Phone: (408) 535-6166
Peabody Charter
School (Santa Barbara Unified School District)
IPM: The school district has no policy, however, an IPM project
has been set up where effective non-chemical and least toxic pest control
methods have been implemented.
Other: To view this school's profile go to CALPRIG's Advancing
Alternatives report pages 18-21.
Contact: Phil Boise, Community Environmental Council. Phone:
805-963-0583 x 150
Vista de las Cruces (Santa Barbara Unified School District)
IPM: The school district has no policy, however, an IPM project
has been set up where effective non-chemical and least toxic pest control
methods have been implemented.
Other: To view this school's profile go to CALPRIG's Advancing
Alternatives report pages 18-21.
Contact: Phil Boise, Community Environmental Council. Phone:
805-963-0583 x 150
Ventura Unified School District
IPM: The school district's policy states the "District will give non-chemical
methods first consideration when selecting appropriate pest control
techniques." The policy establishes an "Approved List"
of pesticides.
Posting Notification Signs: See state law above.
Prior Written
Notification: the policy requires the district shall maintain a
registry of chemically sensitive individuals who shall be given priority
notification of any pesticide application: 2 week "personal"
prior notification. All parents, teachers and students can request to
be placed on a registry and shall receive 72 hour prior notification
of any pesticide not on the approved list.
Prohibition of Use: The policy also requires the school district
to immediatly ban category I and II acutely toxic pesticides. All chemicals
outlined in California proposition 65 known to the state of California
to cause cancer or reproductive damage, and any pesticide identified
as a known, probably, or possible carcinogen by the EPA are prohibited.
It also requires a six-month phase out of pesticides identified as neurotoxins
or endocrine disrupters.
Other: The school's policy requires all new school buildings
to be built to accommodate least toxic IPM principles.
Other
Schools with IPM/Notification Policies:
Berkeley
Fresno Unified School District
Kentfield School District
Kern High School District
Marin
County
New Haven Unified School District
Pine Tree School in Canyon County
Placer Hills Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
CONTACTS
FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
California
Safe Schools
PO Box 2756
Toluca Lake, CA 91610
Phone: (818) 785-5515
Email: calisafe@earthlink.net
www.calisafe.org/
Californians
for Pesticide Reform
49 Powell Street, #530
San Francisco, CA 94102-2811
Phone: (415) 981-3939
http://pesticidereform.org/
Learning
Curve: Progress on Pesticide Use and the Healthy Schools Act
Advancing
Alternatives
CALPIRG
(Public Interest Research Group)
3486 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 206-9338
Email: calpirg@pirg.org
www.calpirg.org
Californians
for Alternatives to Toxics
315 P Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-5100
Email: cats@alternatives2toxics.org
www.alternatives2toxics.org
For
more contacts for local organizations, visit our Links
to Local Organizations.
