For additional information on any of the following topics, click
on the links below.
What are pesticides?
The word pesticide is a broad term that covers many chemical agents
that are toxic to plants or animals. An insecticide is a type of
pesticide that acts only on insects, while a herbicide acts only
on plants. A fumigant is a highly toxic chemical agent that kills
both plants and animals. There has been growing public concern about
the use of pesticides in our food supply, however the quantity of
pesticide use has remained stable over the past 20 years.
Why are pesticides harmful?
Children can be exposed to pesticides through dietary and non-dietary
routes. Aside from the obvious acute toxicity that comes with an
accidental ingestion of a pesticide by a curious child, pesticide
exposure can be harmful to children. There are a number of factors
that put children at a higher risk for pesticide exposure. First,
in relation to body weight, dietary exposure to pesticides in children
is greater than in adults, while safe levels for pesticide content
in our food supply are based mostly on adult studies. Also, young
children tend to eat a limited diet of foods that are more likely
to contain pesticide residue. For example, children drink 16 times
more apple juice than adults drink. Therefore, children ingest pesticide
residue in the juice at a higher concentration than in adults. Water
may also contain pesticide residue. Infant formula reconstituted
with water may contain pesticide residue. However, there is a lack
of studies to prove or disprove this.
Non-dietary pesticide exposure is very difficult to evaluate because
this type of exposure cannot be seen or measured. Many pesticides,
especially the organophosphates, are readily absorbed through the
skin. Children are at higher risk than adults for non-dietary exposure
due to the high skin surface area in relation to their body weight.
Also, children normal exploratory behaviors expose them to pesticide
residue in the grass, soil, and on their toys. A recent study demonstrated
that 2 weeks following a commercial application of ant and roach
pesticide in a home, there was still measurable amounts of pesticide
residue on a child's toys in the home.
The most common, and often ignored, non-dietary pesticide exposure
comes from the use of insect repellent. The active ingredient in
most insect repellents is diethyltoluamide (DEET). Concentrations
of DEET vary by product, but can range from 5% to 95%. From 1997
to 1999, there were 13,616 reported DEET exposures in children 6
years and younger. Out of this group, there were no fatalities but
323 severe poisonings. DEET toxicity can cause seizures in children.
What is being done to protect my family against pesticides?
Regulation over pesticide use in the United States has improved,
but there are many holes in the current mandates. Pesticides such
as DDT have been banned in the United States but the residue from
DDT still persists in our environment. Other countries from which
we import fruits and vegetables may use banned pesticides. Since
pesticide use is difficult to regulate here in the United States,
it is almost impossible to have any influence in other countries.
In 1996, Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act. This
act establishes that pesticide standards should be based on health
issues rather than cost-benefit issues. It also requires that these
standards consider the exposure and susceptibility of children.
Research must show data for both children and adults. If there are
differences between them, the standards must be set at the level
for the children. More legislation is needed to set standards for
the cumulative exposures often seen in children.
What can I do to protect my family from pesticide exposure?
Pesticides protect our food supply from total destruction. They
are necessary "evils". Parents should feel free to feed
their children a diet high in fruits and vegetables. Organic foods
without pesticides are an option, but the cost can be significantly
higher. There are some simple things you can do to limit the exposure
your child has to pesticides.
- Keep your home and kitchen clean and free of food crumbs.
- Wash your fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
- Limit your use of pesticides in and around your home. Not all
insects are health hazards, and therefore may not require treatment.
- Use an insect repellent containing no more than 10% DEET. Apply
only to exposed skin and not in the skin folds (i.e. armpits).
Apply only once during the exposure period. Avoid the combination
sunscreen and insect repellent products since sunscreen needs
to be reapplied often but the repellent does not.
- Weed your garden by hand instead of applying herbicides. If
you choose to use a herbicide in your garden, select one that
is the safest and most effective against the target you are treating.
- Keep your children away from recently treated areas.
- Avoid treating the areas where your children spend a lot of
time.
- If you have pesticides at home that you no longer use, throw
them out! Acute accidental pesticide poisoning can be fatal to
your child. Ø Use rodent traps instead of poison.
- Pressure your legislators to improve the current laws to further
protect everyone from pesticide exposure.
Where can I get more information?
National Pesticide Information Center - www.npic.orst.edu
or (800) 858-7378
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs at (703) 305-5017
Call, write or visit the Environmental Protection Agency's web
site.
Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
77 W. Jackson
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-6003
www.epa.gov
|
