Pesticide warnings ordered

[Guest guest]

Pesticide warnings ordered By Pamela Batzel, Staff Writer.

Under a new law, school districts can spray pesticides and herbicides only

after attempting prevention and nontoxic approaches to curtail pests and

weeds.

Districts must also tell parents when they will spray the chemicals if

parents request notification under the Pesticide Notification Act signed into

law Thursday by Gov. Mark Schweiker.

Proponents of the legislation celebrated the successful end to their

nine-year quest.

" I think it's a wonderful thing, " said Rep. Carole Rubley, R-157th, of

Tredyffrin. " More and more people, especially children, are susceptible to

these substances. "

Rubley sponsored the House portion of the bill that focused on the

notification, an aspect of the bill that particularly pleased

Wendelgass, Pennsylvania director for Clean Water Action, and

coordinator for the Campaign to Reduce Pesticide Exposure in Schools.

Wendelgass, who has been a key proponent of the bill that will become

effective in January, hopes it will lessen student illness and environmental

pollution.

" Studies have shown that many of the pesticides used in schools can have both

short- and long-term health effects that range from headaches, nausea and

diarrhea to cancer and birth defects, " said

Wendelgass. Notification makes it easier for parents to identify whether a

child gets ill from the chemicals, and to avoid them, he said.

The law also requires that districts spray only when children will be out of

the building or off school grounds for at least seven hours, or longer

periods if prescribed by chemical labeling.

At least six districts in Chester County have reported that they currently

practice integrated pest management, the approach that favors prevention and

nontoxic methods to curtail weeds and pests.

The Downingtown Area School District made the transition three or four years

ago, anticipating the new law, said Gil Lappano, director of facilities,

planning and management.

Food is sealed, trash is removed from the buildings, and openings are sealed.

The district attacks wasps with wasp traps. Ants are sprayed with pesticides

in contained areas, but only when children will be out of the building for at

least 12 hours, he said. Commercially available herbicides are used on the

fields. Oxford Area School District has been practicing integrated pest

management for the past three to four years, said Madron, director of

buildings and grounds.

" We felt it was a much safer type of program, " said Madron. " We do little or

no pesticides, " he added. Except for fertilizer, the district has not been

treating its grounds, he said.

The West Chester Area School District has been practicing integrated pest

management since September 1999, and parents who request notification are

notified, said Florence , spokeswoman for the district. Dawn Lawless,

who teaches integrated pest management to elementary children at a

Coatesville Area School District school, praised the new law.

" The biggest concern with the use of pesticides and herbicides is just the

overall multiplier effect, " said Lawless, who has a degree in environmental

education. " We're constantly being exposed to

several in combination.

" Any time you can take a step to reduce (the chemicals) in the environment

should have a positive effect on the people, the animals and plants (that)

are in that environment, " she said.

The Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association, Pennsylvania School Boards

Association, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Sierra Club

were among the groups that have supported the legislation, according to

Wendelgass.

Sen. Greenleaf, a Republican from Montgomery County, sponsored the

Senate portion of the bill that addressed integrated pest management.

Companies and school districts that spray pesticides currently have to notify

people named on a state hypersensitivity list who live or work within 500

feet of the area to be sprayed.

People must provide a physician's signature to the state's Department of

Agriculture to be included on the list.

Wendelgass said he hopes that school districts will do more than notify the

parents who request notification.

" We will be encouraging districts to notify all parents. "

©Daily Local News 2002

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