Summary: Federal law regulates the use of pesticides in the United States, but there are no specific provisions dealing with the use of pesticides in the nation's schools. Pesticides can cause a range of harmful effects in people--from cancer to lung damage to problems with the nervous system-- and children are at higher risk from pesticide exposure than are adults because, among other things, they play on floors and lawns where pesticides are commonly applied. Also, children have more frequent hand-to-mouth contact. Comprehensive nationwide information on the amount of pesticides applied in the nation's 110,000 public schools is unavailable. Data on short- and long-term illnesses linked to pesticide exposure, whether in schools or other settings, is limited. The Environmental Protection Agency and several states have sought to reduce the use of pesticides in schools by using alternative pest management strategies, including structural repairs to stop pests from getting into a building, improving sanitation, and using baits and traps. If pesticides are needed, this "integrated pest management approach" suggests that the least-toxic chemicals be used. Since the early 1990s, EPA has been encouraging schools to adopt this approach, including providing financial support to some state and school districts and producing manuals and education kits. Several states are also taking steps to implement or promote integrated pest management in schools.
