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 Avoiding
Exposure In Our Communities
Because
many of us live in communities where pesticide use is common, it is important
to note steps that can be taken to avoid exposure. The first, and most
important, step is to stop using pesticides yourself. Because this is
within your control (and not the grower or pesticide applicator next door),
this step is the easiest.
Here
are some more ideas:
In the
Home and Garden
Various alternatives
exist for managing pests in and around the home. These methods work to
varying degrees, and a little experimentation goes a long way.
For household
cleaning purposes, many least-toxic materials exist as well. Lemon
juice for cleaning and degreasing, olive oil for brightening wood furniture,
white vinegar and baking soda for stopped drains, vinegar and water for
windows…all of these methods are great alternatives to normal cleaning
products, and they're cheaper!
Agricultural
Settings
If you live in a rural community where pesticides are used in agricultural
production, a few steps will help you avoid exposure via possible "pesticide
drift."
- Close
all windows if you know a pesticide application is set to occur nearby.
- Cover
or bring in any toys, patio furniture, or pet products that may be used
later.
- Work out
an agreement with your farming neighbor to encourage him to notify you
before any pesticide application occurs. Better yet, see if he/she will
agree to not spray near your home or neighborhood. Better still, see
if he/she will consider alternatives to pesticides!
- Wash any
clothes that may be contaminated with pesticide residues.
Schools
If your child's school uses pesticides, you may want to ask yourself the
following.
- Has the
school considered adopting an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy
to reduce their pesticide use?
- Is the
school following the requirements of the Healthy
Schools Act?
- Would
the PTA be interested in addressing the issue of pesticides and children's
health?
- Are neighboring
farms taking into account children's increased vulnerability to pesticides
when they make their pesticide applications?
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