Protecting Children
Questions on Pesticides?
- National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
1-800-858-7378
Resources
- Poison Prevention
- Learn About Chemicals Around Your House
- Protecting Pets
- National Lead Information Center: 1-(800) 424-LEAD
or visit: Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil Web page - Public Service Announcements (PSA) on human health and safety issues. (Transcripts in english/español, audio in español)
Esta página Web está disponible en espaƱol
Protecting children from potential effects of pesticides is an important aspect of EPA's program. The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) requires EPA to place particular emphasis on children in making regulatory decisions about pesticides. EPA considers the potential for children to be more sensitive to pesticides than adults, for example. Risk assessments include evaluations for children in various age groups, since children's eating and activity patterns change as they grow up.
What can you do to protect your children from pesticide exposure? One of the most important things parents can do to protect their children is to read and follow label directions whenever using a pesticide. The interactive label will help consumers understand the label components.
Projects
- Protecting
Children on the U.S./Mexico Border - The Environmental Health
Work Group (EHWG) has conducted a number of projects on environmental
health in the U.S./Mexico border region.
- Protecting Farmworker Children - For Healthy Kids is a project that focuses on preventing children's exposure to pesticides by educating agricultural workers on preventing "the take home pathway" for pesticide residue.
Additional Information
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools
- Use of pesticides in schools is of concern to parents, since it
is a place children spend significant time. EPA has eliminated the
indoor use of certain pesticides that may pose unacceptable risks
to children. In addition, the Agency is working with partners to gather
information and provide assistance to schools in managing pests while
reducing use of pesticides.
- Protecting
Children from Pesticides - This fact sheet describes the vulnerability
of children to pesticides and some of the actions EPA has taken to
protect children.
- Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings - This publication provides resources and safety tips to prevent pesticide and lead poisoning. (Also available in en español)