Pesticides in schools (Guide)

Pesticides may be found in schools, pre-schools, and nurseries. They may be used in the school grounds and in the buildings or be present as residues in the food brought in.

This briefing, from the Health and Environment Alliance, provides a short guide to what these pesticides may be and what health effects they could have. The briefing concludes with further useful information including guides on pesticide alternatives and links to useful organisations.

Given the rising health concerns about pesticide exposure particularly concerning children, Local Authorities need to minimise children‟s risk whilst in their care and ensure that pesticide exposure is minimised in schools.

We hope to demonstrate to the government that school authorities want to take action to minimise exposure, and that the new Government pesticide National Action Plans should be helping them to do that. In Canada and the USA new policies are being applied to restrict pesticide exposure in schools; the UK should be doing the same to minimise exposure.

Download guide for more information.

Last updated on 1 July 2011