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 IPM and School Examples |
Pesticides - IPM and School Examples
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Federal IPM and School Examples
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S 1619 – Introduced in the 109th Congress by Senator Lautenberg to Amend FIFRA and require the use of IPM in schools and educational institutions.
(9) integrated pest management—
(A) promotes nonchemical methods of pest prevention and management using least toxic pesticides after all other methods have been exhausted;
EPA Fact Sheets – What is IPM? Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
State or Regional IPM and School Examples
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as stated in the Healthy Schools Act of 2000 (Assembly Bill 2260)
"…a pest management strategy that focuses on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems through a combination of techniques such as monitoring for pest presence and establishing treatment threshold levels, using non-chemical practices to make the habitat less conducive to pest development, improving sanitation, and employing mechanical and physical controls. Pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property, and the environment, are used only after careful monitoring indicates they are needed according to pre-established guidelines and treatment thresholds."
Once the IPM decision-making process is in place and monitoring indicates a pest treatment is needed, the choice of specific strategies can be made. Choose strategies that:
- minimize risk to humans and the environment
- are least disruptive of natural controls in landscape situations
- are least toxic to non-target organisms
- prevent recurrence of the pest problem
- easiest to carry out safely and effectively
- most cost-effective in the short- and long-term
- appropriate to the site and maintenance system
Least hazardous to human health
It is particularly important around children to take the health hazards of various strategies into consideration.
This topic hub will describe the hazards and disadvantages associated with traditional pest management practices (e.g. use of chemical pesticides) and introduce the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a means to improve the health and safety of all school facilities, while preventing waste and pollution.
The Safer Pest Control Project defines Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a proven method of pest control that emphasizes simple, inexpensive prevention practices that cause the least harm to people and the environment. IPM focuses on eliminating the cause of pests by minimizing access to food, water, and hiding places.
The ultimate goal of this topic hub is pollution prevention (P2) by preventing the release of harmful and unnecessary chemicals into both the natural environment and the school’s learning environment, to reduce exposure of pesticides to children, and to provide resources for planning a graduated, informed process for managing pests.
Benefits of focusing on IPM in schools are that it can achieve the following:
Encourage use of alternative products and procedures that do not contain harmful chemicalsThe primary goal of IPM is finding the cause of pest problems. Understanding what pests need to survive is the key. Pests live in areas that provide basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. Pests can often be controlled by removing food and water sources or by closing off entry points into buildings. Pesticides can also be part of an IPM program if they are selected carefully and used cautiously.
Iowa: Sample IPM Policy Statement It is the policy of the (insert name here) school district to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) procedures to control structural and landscape pests and minimize exposure of children, faculty, and staff to pesticides.
It is the policy of this school district to ensure minimal or no exposure to pesticides in the school environment. A pesticide is defined as any chemical used to repel or kill a pest organism. Children may be more susceptible to pesticides than adults due to their smaller size and rapid development. Their behavior may also increase their risk of exposure to pesticide residues. When pesticides are used to control pests in schools, there is potential for exposure to children. Exposure may result in allergic responses for sensitive individuals or poisoning in extreme cases.
Iowa: Successful The goal of successful pest management programs in schools is to protect students, faculty, and staff from noxious pests and toxic pesticides. We can reduce pesticide use and still manage pest populations by preventing pest infestations, using non-chemical methods to manage pests, applying least toxic pesticides only as needed, and targeting pesticides to locations where pests occur.
IPM includes:
- regular monitoring to detect problems early
- acting against pests only when necessary
- choosing the most effective options with the least risk to people and the environment
- record-keeping and evaluation
- applying knowledge about pest biology to create long-term solutions
People vary widely in their sensitivity to chemicals such as pesticides. Children are among the most vulnerable to chemical-exposure risks. Similarly, some people are very sensitive to certain pests, such as stinging insects and poison ivy. In
IPM is the best way to achieve that balance. Under IPM, a well-organized and comprehensive approach is in place to prevent pests from reaching unacceptable levels that uses low-risk control strategies when necessary. IPM targets troublesome pests and limits the impact on people and the environment.
School IPM for Massachussetts
IPM is a systematic strategy for managing pests which considers prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression. Where chemical pesticides are necessary, a preference is given to materials and methods which maximize public safety and reduce environmental risk {42}.Massachusetts State Legislature's definition of IPM:
A comprehensive strategy of pest control whose major objective is to achieve desired levels of pest control in an environmentally responsible manner by combining multiple pest control measures to reduce the need for reliance on chemical pesticides; more specifically, a combination of pest controls which addresses conditions that support pests and may include, but is not limited to, the use of monitoring techniques to determine immediate and ongoing need for pest control, increased sanitation, physical barrier methods, the use of natural pest enemies and a judicious use of lowest risk pesticides when necessary {5}.IPM is a process for achieving long term, environmentally sound pest suppression through the use of a wide variety of technological and management practices.
Pesticides are used only when a confirmed pest problem is present (no preventative treatments). Then, the least hazardous pesticide effective for control of a specific pest is applied using precision, targeted treatments in areas not contacted or accessible to the children, faculty or staff.
Subd. 8. Plan. A school is not required to adopt an integrated pest management plan. A school board may only notify students, parents, or employees that it has adopted an integrated pest management plan if the plan is a managed pest control program designed to minimize the
*** (7) controlling identified pests using the least toxic pesticides with the least exposure to persons as is practicable.
risk to human health and the environment and to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, and which ranks the district's response to pests in the following manner:With increasing public concern about pesticide use, it has never been more important for us to reevaluate pesticide use in and around our schools. Keeping our children safe should always be our first priority. Pests in schools also cause concern. Some pests cause allergies and have been found to be asthma triggers. Others carry bacteria and transmit diseases. These are certainly good reasons to manage pests in your schools. This is where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can help you. IPM is an approach that has been around for several decades, but has received more attention recently. In the last 10 years, effective, low-toxic controls have been developed that are much safer to humans than many older pesticides. Many of these low-toxic controls are now available for pests in and around schools. The person who does pest control in your schools should be using IPM and these low-toxic controls whenever possible.
Integrated Pest Management on school property is a long-term approach to maintaining healthy landscapes and facilities that minimizes risks to people and the environment.
Implementation of IPM procedures will determine when to control pests and whether to use mechanical, physical, cultural, biological or chemical methods. Applying IPM principles prevents unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
Each school shall consider the full range of management options, including no action at all. Non-pesticide pest management methods are to be used whenever possible. The choice of using a pesticide shall be based on a review of all other available options and a determination that these options are not effective or not reasonable. When it is determined that a pesticide must be used, low impact pesticides and methods are preferred and shall be considered for use first.
IPM practitioners consider economic, environmental, human health and social impacts of pest management activities in each situation. Actions preventing pest establishment or entry are preferred over intervention. When chemical tactics are included, the least-risky, most pest-specific products and formulations are selected.
If you need to control a pest, you should use things called "least toxic" controls, which are least harmful to humans and the environment. Using chemicals too much can make kids and pets sick. It also can harm the outdoors and animals living there. Instead of spraying bug spray to get rid of insect pests in your house, try using a fly swatter!
The goal of using multiple tactics or "many small hammers" is to effectively suppress pests below injurious levels and avoiding outbreaks. Many tactics keep pest populations off-balance and avoids development of resistance to pesticides. Least-toxic effective methods are used before more toxic ones whenever possible.
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a strategy of managing pests using multiple control tactics that provide the best control with the least cost and environmental impact. IPM is based on thorough knowledge of the pests and the technologies used to control them, and can be performed by anyone with proper training. A good IPM program attempts to make schools less hospitable to pests by modifying the environment, like improving sanitation, and eliminating pest harborage sites, along with using the lowest impact pesticides as necessary. Managing risks from pests and risks from the pesticides used to control them are top priorities under an IPM program.
Integrated Pest Management, IPM, is a strategy that provides quality pest control using the least hazardous chemicals and techniques. IPM is not a particular pest control provider, but rather an approach that can be used by anyone with proper training.
Kids deserve a safe place to learn and grow. But bullies and drugs aren’t the only threats to a safe school.
Children can spend long hours at school, seven or more hours a day, and up to 12 hours a day at a child care center, and therefore have an increased risk of pesticide exposure if pesticides have been applied in a manner incompatible with integrated pest management (IPM). Children are physiologically more vulnerable to harm - their inhalation rate is more than that of adults, developing cells are more likely to be damaged, toxins concentrate more quickly in smaller bodies, their enzyme detoxification systems are not completely developed and their behavior, such as hand-to-mouth activity and sitting on floors, increases their chances of ingesting or otherwise being exposed to toxins. While research regarding the degree of harm that pesticides may cause to children continues to come forward, there is sufficient data “to be prudent to reduce or, where possible, eliminate pesticide exposure to children, given their increased vulnerability and susceptibility” (Zahm and Ward 1998).
IPM aims to reduce and balance exposure to pests and pesticides and is a process that extends beyond the application of pesticides to include reduction of food, water, shelter, and in building access used by pests. In an IPM program, pest populations are prevented; pesticides are used only when needed; the least hazardous pesticide that effectively manages the targeted pests is selected; and pesticides are directed to areas not contacted or accessible to children, staff, parents or other building occupants.
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is an approach to pest control that relies on a combination of common sense practices for preventing and controlling pests and unnecessary exposure to pesticides.
Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) operates
Local IPM and School Examples
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Purpose: To encourage development or review of policies and procedures to ensure that pesticides used in schools and on school property are selected, used and stored in a manner which prevents exposure to people applying pesticides, as well as students, staff or the general public. The term “pesticide” includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides.
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Professional and Trade Organizations - IPM and School Examples
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) maintains a high standard of pest control while reducing reliance on pesticides. IPM includes:
- regular monitoring to detect problems early;
- acting against pests only when necessary;
- choosing the most effective option with the least risk to people and the environment;
By improving pest control, reducing reliance on pesticides and incorporating least-risk control options, IPM reduces both pest and pesticide risks. Using IPM in the school environment is especially important. Children spend a great deal of time in schools and face greater