STATE
SCHOOL PESTICIDE LAW
I. Restricted
Spray Zones Around School Property
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
Nevada does not have any statewide requirements regarding restricted
spray zones around school property.
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
Nevada
does not have any statewide posting requirements for
indoor pesticide applications.
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
Nevada
does not have any statewide posting requirements for
outdoor pesticide applications.
IV. Prior
Written Notification
Overview
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
Nevada
does not have any statewide requirements for providing
prior written notification of pesticide use.
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. 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
Nevada
does not have any state laws restricting school pesticide
use.
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, 4) utilizing pest suppression techniques,
if necessary, that are based on mechanical and biological
controls and 5) only after nontoxic 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
Nevada
does not have any statewide requirements for implementation
of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
LOCAL
SCHOOL PESTICIDE PROGRAMS
Beyond
Pesticides is unaware of any schools implementing
an IPM policy in the state of Nevada. If you have
any information please contact Beyond Pesticides at info@beyondpesticides.org.
For
more information contact
Beyond Pesticides, 701 E Street, S.E., Suite
200, Washington, DC, 20003, info@beyondpesticides.org
