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NEWS RELEASE New Survey Finds Highly Toxic Pesticides Used in California's Largest School Districts A survey of the 15 most populous school districts in California,representing 26.4% of children in California public schools (1.5 million),found 13 districts used one or more particularly hazardous pesticides-those that cause cancer, reproductive harm and/or nervous system damage. The new report, P is for Poison: An Update on Pesticide Use in California Schools, was released today by the California Public Interest Research Group Charitable Trust (CALPIRG CT) and the statewide coalition Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR). The report documents that toxic pest control is the rule rather than the exception, as 12 of the 13 responding most populous school districts were found to use seven or more particularly hazardous pesticides. Eight of the 13 school districts used chlorpyrifos, a pesticide recently banned for use in schools and homes by the federal Environmental Protection Agency due its risk to children. However, the survey showed that chlorpyrifos was not the only highly toxic pesticide used by school districts. Other findings include: o 11 of 13 school districts reported use of known or probable human carcinogens, o 11 used pesticides that cause birth defects or impair normal physical and mental development, o 13 used pesticides suspected of disrupting the human hormone system, and o 11 used one or more acutely toxic pesticides and cholinesterase inhibitors (pesticides that interfere with nerve transmission), such as chlorpyrifos. "When it comes to protecting kids from toxic pesticides, California gets an F for effort," said Teri Olle, Toxics Program Director of CALPIRG Charitable Trust, staff attorney and author of the report. "Clearly California is not doing enough to help school districts get off this toxic treadmill and use the least hazardous forms of pest control. Our children are at risk." The report also found that parents, teachers and the public are typically left in the dark about pesticides used in schools. Ten of the responding most populous school districts provided no written notification to parents or staff about pesticide use on school grounds and seven districts failed to post information on treated sites. In addition, unlike agricultural pesticide applications, pesticides used in schools are not required to be reported to the state, and school staff are not required to monitor or track school pesticide use. To obtain information from the districts, researchers found it necessary to invoke the California Public Records Act, and even then Oakland Unified School District and San Bernardino Unified School District failed to provide any information. Researchers sent a registered mail survey requesting pesticide records, citing the California Public Records Act. After repeated phone calls, Oakland Unified and San Bernardino Unified never responded. "Its outrageous that Oakland and San Bernardino Unified School Districts are hiding what pesticides they use," said Matthew Shaffer, Toxics Policy Advocate for CALPIRG. "Its bad enough that many schools use highly hazardous pesticides - but even worse when they won't disclose their practices. OUSD and SBUSD should be ashamed." "As a medical professional, I think it is critical that parents and teachers know what pesticides they are being exposed to," said Dr.Felix Aguilar, M.D., M.P.H., Board President, Physicians for Social Responsibility, "This information is extremely important for parents. It is their right to know so they can make decisions about protecting their children's health." In response to this toxic threat, a healthy schools coalition comprised of over 40 groups, including the California PTA, CALPIRG, and Sierra Club, is endorsing the Healthy Schools Act of 2000, AB 2260. The Act, authored by Assembly majority leader Kevin Shelley (D-SF), would require schools send to parents written notice of pesticides that may be used on school grounds, post notices at treated areas, and to offer state training and information in least toxic pest control. The bill has passed the state Assembly and is currently in the Senate. "We encourage the legislature and Governor Davis to enact AB 2260, something that should have been signed into law long ago," concluded Shaffer. For more information contact: To order a copy of P is for Poison:
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