No doubt you’ve assessed your child’s day care for loving caregivers,
cleanliness and healthful snacks. But what about pesticides? A recent
Environmental Protection Agency report says that millions of children in day care
could be exposed to potentially toxic chemicals. These include diazinon, which
has been used on lawns, and chlorpyrifos, an insecticide once used indoors and
on farms. Both can damage the nervous system and have been banned by the EPA
for virtually all indoor use, but they can still be used if they have been stockpiled.
Researchers analyzed 168 day-care sites across the United States for 39 different
pesticides, checking floors, desks and tables, outdoor play areas and other surfaces.
They found at least one pesticide in every child-care center studied.
"The good news is that these were low concentrations," says Nicolle Tulve,
PhD, an EPA research scientist and one of the study authors. But since children
are more sensitive to chemicals than adults are, researchers advise using pesticidefree
pest control methods such as frequent cleaning, proper food storage and
prompt garbage disposal. What else can you do? Teach kids not to eat off the
floor, and use pesticides only as a last resort, opting for less toxic or nontoxic
types (such as bait) before reaching for chemical sprays.
