1. Protecting Kids
from Pesticides
Billie Karel
Toxic Free NC
919-833-1123
billie@toxicfreenc.org

2. What are pesticides?
Chemicals put into the
environment for
poisoning pests.
Insecticides > bugs
Herbicides > plants
Fungicides > mold
Rodenticides > rodents..
..and others.

3. PESTICIDES ARE POISON.
Some pesticides are more or less toxic than
others, but ALL are toxic.
There is no such thing as a safe pesticide.

5. Children are especially vulnerable
to health damage from pesticides and
other toxics because….
•Small size
•Higher metabolic rate
•Risk habits
•Developing bodies

6. Similarities and Differences between Children and Adults, ILSI, 1992

7. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
for NC Child Care!
IPM is a common sense,
prevention-based approach to
pest control that protects human
health and the environment by
minimizing pest infestations AND
pesticide use.

8. To prevent
pests, think like
a pest. Just
remember:
starve them out,
dry them out,
and
keep them out!

9. Starve them out….
Good sanitation = Good pest management
•Clean to the corner, under equipment and
shelving
•Store food, pet food, art supplies in “pest
proof” airtight containers.
•Do not leave dirty dishes or full garbage cans
overnight
•Keep outside trash bins well away from the
building, and cover tightly

10. Dry them out…
•Repair leaky pipes
•Clean out evaporation trays under refrigerators
regularly
•Open windows and use fans for good
ventilation
•Clean gutters regularly and ensure good
drainage around the building
•Tip, toss, or cover items in the yard that can
hold standing water

11. Keep them out!
Don’t give pests a way in or a place to hide.
•Caulk or cement cracks and holes on the outside
and inside of the building. Focus on gaps behind
sinks, around pipes, ducts, baseboards, and window
frames.
•Install door sweeps and screens on windows and
doors.
•Inspect deliveries (where pests can hitch-hike in).
•Remove delivered items from cardboard boxes and
get rid of the boxes as soon as possible (roaches
LOVE cardboard).

12. Least-Toxic Pest Control
•Broadcast pesticide sprays are rarely or never
used. Includes baseboard spraying, fogging, and
most aerosols.
•Instead, contained baits, traps and crack and
crevice treatments are used when pests
problems occur.
•Pesticides are only used when pests are actually
present, never for prevention.
•Look for least-toxic ingredients in pest control
products like boric acid, limonene, diatomaceous
earth, rotenone, and spinosad.
•If in doubt, check toxicity information on
www.pesticideinfo.org

13. How can you tell if your contractor is providing you with
the safest, most cost-effective pest control service?
Does your contractor do the following?
- Do thorough inspections to monitor pest activity,
-Use baits and traps instead of high-risk pesticide sprays,
- Use any pesticide ONLY when pests are present, not just by the
calendar,
- Provide you with suggestions to prevent future pest problems?
If you did not answer yes to each of these questions, then you might not
be getting the safest, most effective pest control service possible for your
child care facility.

14. Get the guide from Toxic Free NC:
How to Contract for Safer
Pest Control in Child Care
It includes questions you should ask a
contractor, both before and after you hire
them, and a sample IPM contract you
can use.
It is available free from
www.ToxicFreeNC.org.

15. Prevent arsenic exposure
from CCA treated wood
structures
•Don’t put in new structures
•Seal existing structures with oil-based
sealant every 1 - 2 years
•Wash hands thoroughly after coming
into contact
•Use a plastic liner for garden beds
framed with treated wood, especially if
beds contain edible plants
•Remove properly - contact County
Extension for info
•Cover surrounding soil, as it may be
contaminated
•Do not burn or use for chips or mulch

16. In the state of North Carolina, it is PROHIBITED for
a crop duster to allow pesticides to drift within 100
feet of a private home, within 300 feet of a public
place, such as a business, school, church, or child
care, or within 25 feet of a public roadway.

17. • Do not allow children to play outside while pesticides are
being applied nearby – crops, athletic fields, lawns, or
mosquitoes.
• Close windows and doors, re-circulate air.
• Bring in laundry, toys, pets.
• Cover play equipment and pools.

18. If a person is exposed to pesticides from drift, or from walking through
a recently sprayed area:
1. Shower as soon as possible and change clothes.
2. Find out what chemicals you were exposed to – ask the applicator for
copies of the pesticide label and/or MSDS.
3. See a doctor ASAP, even if symptoms aren’t immediately present,
and give your doctor any chemical information.
4. Report incidents of pesticide drift it to the NC Pesticide Section: (919)
733-3556.
5. Call the Toxic Free NC at 1-877-NO-SPRAY for information and
assistance.

19. Smell good without toxic chemicals!
“Fragrance” in household air fresheners and cleaning
products is actually a set of toxic chemicals known
as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and
phthalates.
Choose mild, “fragrance-free” products! Try using
natural deodorizers instead of plug-ins and spray
fresheners in child care! For example:
•Sprinkle baking soda in diaper bins, trash cans, etc.
after cleaning to absorb odors.
•White vinegar is a very effective cleaner for glass
and surfaces.
•Borax powder can be used to scrub tough stains,
and also to kill mold & mildew in the bathroom.
•There’s no substitute for fresh air! Open windows
whenever weather allows, or if you have folks with
seasonal allergies in your child care, consider having
a filtered-fresh-air system installed on your HVAC.

20. Toxic Free NC has many
resources for the child care
community on getting started with
IPM, such as sample contracts and
policies.
We are also available to give in-
depth trainings for child care staff
and/or families on least-toxic pest
control.
Please call on us anytime, and
sign up for our publications so we
can keep in touch with you.
www.ToxicFreeNC.org
919-833-1123 Thank you!
billie@toxicfreenc.org