The December 2012 print issue of PEDIATRICS Journal will contain the posted policy statement that has been issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding the health effects that children face when they are exposed to pesticides.
According to PCT on December 5, 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that “children who are exposed to pesticides (a collective term for chemicals intended to kill unwanted insects, plants, molds and rodents) every day have unique susceptibilities to their potential toxicity.” The concern is that children will face immediate and long term health problems because of the early life exposures to pesticides. Medical issues that children face are pediatric cancer, behavioral problems, and decreased cognitive function.
The statement by the AAP reveals that there are ways to improve the safety of children so that they are not exposed to pesticides unnecessarily. Here are a few of their suggestions…
• Protection against spray drifts and unintentional ingestions and inhalations for teen agricultural workers.
• Improved physician training and diagnostic testing to determine when pesticide exposure is present or when it has caused an acute illness.
• Change EPA labels on pesticides so that they are reflected in other languages, not only in English.
• Change EPA labels so that all ingredients of the pesticides are shown.
• States the importance of education, monitoring, and enforcement of using only legal pesticides.
• Urges pediatricians to become more knowledgeable about pesticide poisoning.
For the safety and well-being of your family and home it is always best to hire a licensed NJ pest control professional to apply pesticides for insects and rodent infestations. While there are many do-it-yourself products on the market that consumers can buy, they still carry serious consequences when they are not applied correctly to the home. In many cases, homeowners are unhappy with the results of the store bought pesticides and will apply additional chemicals to try to eliminate the home invaders. This practice can be extremely dangerous to children, adults, and pets. The licensed NJ pest control professional has the expertise to know the exact amount of pesticide to use and the correct pesticide to use.