Playing With Dangerous Pesticides

You'd never tell your child to go play with dangerous chemicals such as pesticides. But even when we take precautions to reduce the use of toxic pesticides in our homes there's still a risk to our children outside the home. That's what happened to then 10-year-old William Hunt in Oakland, California when his next-door neighbor sprayed a chemical on -- and through -- the hedge between their homes, spattering William, his bicycle, and the side of the house with chemical residues.

Soon afterward the boy had a rash, and he later developed a problem with his heart. Their cat, who was also in that area, soon developed eye and kidney abnormalities.

The sad fact is that many chemicals in common products have not been adequately tested for health risks. Some of the most lethal pesticides have been pulled from store shelves after environmentalists called for stricter health requirements. But there's no guarantee that a product is safe just because it's for sale.

A national government survey found that more than 90 percent of Americans have a mixture of up to 43 pesticides in their bodies. We don't know enough about how all these chemicals interact in our bodies. Children, with their smaller bodies and faster breathing rates, are particularly vulnerable.

NRDC has filed petitions and lawsuits against the government so it will someday do a better job testing chemicals and removing the dangerous ones from the shelves, but in the mean time we can protect ourselves by using less toxic alternatives to dangerous pesticides and household cleaners whenever possible.

Don't spray pesticides in your home. If you do it yourself, use less toxic methods like soaps, baits and traps. If you hire someone, choose a certified specialist in Integrated Pest Management. Find one at greenshieldcertified.org/. Green Shield Certified is an independent, non-profit certification program that promotes effective, prevention-based pest control while minimizing the use of pesticides.	Ask your neighbors to avoid using pesticides on their lawns, so they don't accidentally cause harm to children or pets in the neighborhood.	Find out what pesticides are used at your child's school, at the park and in the playground. Ask the school district and the county to switch to Integrated Pest Management methods. Give them the tools they need at http://www.ipminstitute.org/school.htm.

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