school buildings; 32 percent sprayed pesticides routinely regardless of whether there
was a pest problem.^5 A 1998 survey of California school districts revealed that 93
percent of forty-six districts responding used pesticides.^6 An earlier survey taken in
1991 of 261 New York schools, indicated that 87 percent used pesticides.^7 Some
commonly used insecticides, such as pyrethroids, that stimulate nerves, causing
hyperexcitability. They are also associated with asthma. Certain insecticides, herbi-
cides, and fungicides are linked to cancer. The commonly used weed killer 2,4-D has
been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in scientific studies.^8Three Pesticides to AvoidAmong the most dangerous toxins is Roundup (glyphosate), which kills all green
plants that it touches (users are advised to avoid treatment areas for twenty-four
hours). Another is diazinon, used for killing insects in lawns (it has a warning to keep
away from edible plants because of its high degree of toxicity). Some schools have
opted to pull weeds by hand, thus eliminating the need for spraying.^9 Another pesti-
cide often applied, Dursban (chlorpyrifos), has a half-life greater than thirty days. As
a result, a classroom carpet can become a continuing reservoir of pesticide exposure,
long after the application appears to have dried. The pesticide vapors build up into
an invisible, odorless, toxic chemical soup that is capable of causing a cascade of toxic
reactions for years to come. The California Department of Health Services estimated
the amount of chlorpyrifos to which a child would be exposed one day after an
indoor application. The estimate was based on the amount that the child would
breathe added to the amount the child would absorb through the skin. The estimate
wasmore than 1,700 times the acceptable daily intakeestablished by the World Health
Organization. The aerial drift of one droplet of pesticide on a calm day was reported
at twenty-four miles. On a windy day, aerial drift has been traced halfway around the
globe. The EPA reports that ‘‘chlorpyrifos has...been associated with chronic effects
in humans, including chronic neurobehavioral effects and multiple chemical sensitiv-
ity. Neurobehavioral effects reported include persistent headaches, blurred vision, un-
usual fatigue or muscle weakness, and problems with mental function including
memory, concentration, depression, and irritability.’’^10 Studies suggest that human
health effects may occur even in the absence of measurable depression of the enzyme
cholinesterase, which the EPA usually considers the most sensitive measure of expo-
sure to organophosphates such as Dursban.^11
An exhaustive investigation by the Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
(GBPSR) examined the contribution of toxic chemicals to neurodevelopmental, learning,
and behavioral disabilities in children. The Boston physicians’ report indicated that these
disabilities are clearly the result of complex interactions among genetic, environmental,
and social factors that impact children during vulnerable periods of development. Toxic
exposures deserve special scrutiny because they are preventable causes of harm.
An epidemic of developmental, learning, andbehavioral disabilities among children
has become evident. It is estimated that nearly twelve million children (17 percent) in116 | Pesticides