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Press Release |
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Grading scale runs from "A" in Austin to "F" in Paris
AUSTIN, TX -- School districts across Texas generally exhibit an
erratic pattern in the implementation of a four-year-old program that
governs the sensible application of pesticides on school grounds,
with three out of 7 independent school districts investigated by
Consumers Union getting marks of "D" or "F".
The study released today (copies of the report are available by
clicking here
or at www.texascenter.org/txpin
) gives the highest marks to the Austin Independent School District,
with an "A" in a grading scale of "A" to "F". The lowest went to the
Paris ISD, with a grade of "F. The school districts surveyed and
their grades are:
· Austin ISD
A
· McAllen ISD
B
· Conroe ISD
C
· Dallas ISD
C
· Fort Stockton ISD
D
· Pampa ISD
D
· Paris ISD
F
"Tens of thousands of school children in Texas are being exposed
to risks that are absolutely unnecessary," said Reggie James,
director of the Southwest Regional Office of Consumers Union,
publisher of Consumer Reports. "Although Texas passed one of the best
laws in the country, laws are only good if they are fully implemented
and enforced."
At issue is the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for Texas
Schools adopted by the Texas Structural Pest Control Board in 1995 as
part of sunset legislation passed in 1991. IPM encourages
alternatives to harmful pesticides and herbicides to protect the
public health. It is a sustainable approach to managing pests that
combines biological, physical and chemical control techniques while
reducing overall exposure to toxics. In addition to reducing risks to
children, IPM is more effective in controlling pests.
Parents who want to obtain information about their school
district's pesticide use can follow instructions in a manual called
"Pesticides in Schools: A Texas Parent's Bill of Rights," also
available on the website.
The CU study found evidence of confusion, misinformation and
voluntary or involuntary evasion of current IPM standards in Texas on
the part of school officials. For example:
· There is evidence that school districts underreport the toxicity of the pesticides they use, and a few regularly waive standard safety requirements by deeming their applications to be emergencies.
· One school district reported using least-toxic methods of pest control, when in reality, they used the most toxic mix of pesticides of all the schools surveyed.
· Another district used many pesticides and herbicides with low toxicity, but used a highly toxic product for a purely aesthetic purpose - to burn lines in its football fields.
Texans use an estimated 37 million pounds of pesticides each year.
Children are particularly sensitive to pesticides because their minds
and bodies are still evolving. They also have a greater exposure to
pesticides because they eat more food - especially fresh fruits and
vegetables - in relation to their body weight than adults do. In
addition, they have a higher respiratory rate so they inhale
pesticides in the air at a faster rate than adults.
"The link between pesticide misuse and respiratory illnesses and
cancers in children is well established," said James. "While
education should be one of the top state and national priorities, we
must remember that education and poor health are clearly
incompatible. "
From 1985 to 1992, the EPA found at least 2,766 pesticide
poisoning incidents in schools nationally. Both the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Parent Teacher Association
support the use of IPMs in schools.
Currently in Texas, pesticides are classified in order of least
toxic to most toxic: Green, Yellow and Red List. Not surprisingly,
the only district to get a grade of "F" - Paris ISD - had the worst
ratio of green to yellow and red. Conversely, the Austin ISD got the
only "A" in the group. It had a high ratio of Green List to Yellow
List use and no Red List products.
The CU study identified the following weaknesses with current
state laws and regulations:
· They allow school districts to easily bypass safety regulations by abusing an "emergency clause" that allows treatments of any level of toxicity without normal notification requirements.
· They fail to give school districts the incentive to reduce the use of most toxic chemicals in favor of least toxic alternatives. It is possible now for a school district to use 100 percent highly toxic pesticides in favor of least toxic alternatives.
· Regulations make it possible to classify the most toxic chemicals as least toxic as long as they are in tamper-resistant containers or sprayed in cracks and crevices.
"Policy will need to drive schools towards a more comprehensive
practice of the principles of IPM if it is to take place," the report
noted. "It is evidently not happening as a matter of course."
Among CU's recommendations are:
· Restrict the use of highly toxic pesticides.
· Remove the emergency clause that waives standard safety rules.
· Prohibit regularly scheduled pesticide applications from being part of IPM.
· Reclassify the Green list so that it does not include all "crack and crevice" treatments regardless of the toxicity of the product.
· Require standard reporting formulas issued by the SPCB to be used by all schools.
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization, serving only the consumer. We are a comprehensive source of unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers.
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Overall Implementation of IPM: |
A |
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Toxicity Score: |
181 |
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No Penalties: |
- |
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Total: |
181 |
Austin demonstrated by far the best record for IPM management.
There was a high ratio of Green List use to Yellow List use. There
were no Red List products used or emergencies declared.
The only Yellow List product used regularly was PT-515 Waspfreeze,
with an occasional application of Yellow List product Roundup. Austin
used a number of recognized IPM products that no other independent
school district documented, such as IPM foam and hardware cloth.
During the sample month of September 1998, Austin ISD used
pesticides in and around 77 buildings. The total number of
applications made was 262, with 191 Green List, 71 Yellow List
products used. Austin's own reporting gave a somewhat higher Green
List use.
Overall Implementation of IPM: C Toxicity Score: 250 Penalty for Cosmetic Use: 50 Total: 300
Conroe did use Green List products. However, it also used a good
number of Yellow and Red List products as well. Red List herbicide
Finale was used in three occasions in one month to burn lines into
athletic fields. Given the scope of Integrated Pest Management
mandate for Texas school districts, we did not find this to be a
reasonable use for an herbicide. Of all the school districts we
sampled, we found this to be the most striking example of poor IPM
practice.
During the sample month of September 1998, Conroe ISD used
pesticides in and around 39 schools and administrative buildings. The
total number of applications was 117, with 64 Green List, 50 Yellow
List, and three Red List products used-not the best ratio of green to
yellow and red, but not the worst of the schools sampled, either.
Conroe provided excellent documentation of their applications (the
best of all schools districts), often including the EPA registration
number, active ingredient of pesticides used, and application.
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Overall Implementation of IPM: |
C |
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Toxicity Score: |
321.5 |
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Penalty for Emergency Waivers: |
50 |
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Total: |
371.5 |
Dallas had the worst record for number of emergencies declared and
problematic records. Ten percent and possibly many more were
considered to be emergencies. Information was often incomplete,
illegible, and/or contradictory. The ratio of Green to Yellow List
products was below average for the group that was sampled. We found
much more Yellow List product use than Dallas reported, and Red List
product use where Dallas reported none. Necessary supporting
documentation, including signatures, was often missing from the
Yellow List product application paperwork.
During the sample month of September 1998, Dallas ISD used
pesticides in and around 205 schools and administrative buildings.
The total number of applications was 566, with 163 Green List, 48
Green or Yellow List, 320 Yellow List, four Yellow or Red List, 28
Red List, and three unknown products used.
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Overall Implementation of IPM: |
D |
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Toxicity Score: |
427 |
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No Penalties: |
- |
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Total: |
427 |
Fort Stockton used glue traps and Tero Baits in four out of 15
applications, both of which are considered to be Green List. The
other 11 applications were Demon, Dursban Pro, and Amdro, which are
Red and Yellow List. There were no emergency treatments made.
During the sample month of September 1998, Fort Stockton ISD used
pesticides in and around 6 schools and administrative buildings. The
total number of applications was 15, with four Green List, seven
Yellow List, and four Red List products used-a fair to poor ratio of
green to yellow/red.
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Overall Implementation of IPM: |
B |
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Toxicity Score: |
298 |
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No Penalties: |
- |
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Total: |
298 |
McAllen used Yellow/Red List product All Pro Dursban 2 E i
frequently, as well as Red List product Dragnet T C for termites.
However, its records also show widespread use of a number of Green
List pesticides as well.
During the sample month of September 1998, McAllen ISD used
pesticides in and around 42 schools and administrative buildings. The
total number of applications was 152, with 102 Green List, two that
are either Green or Yellow List, six Yellow List, five that are
either Yellow or Red List, 36 Red List, and one unknown. McAllen's
own reporting of its green/yellow/red ratios had a higher ratio of
Green and Yellow List and included the identification of only one Red
List product.
Overall Implementation of IPM: D Toxicity Score: 400 Penalty for Emergency Waivers: 50 Total: 450
During the sample month of September 1998, Pampa ISD used Tempo
WP, a Yellow List product, seven times in and around seven of its
schools and administrative buildings. All of Pampa's applications of
Tempo WP are listed on an emergency waiver form.
Overall Implementation of IPM: F Toxicity Score: 756 Documentation Penalty: 50 Total: 806
Paris used Catalyst, Ficam W, and Orthene, all of which are Yellow
or Red List products. However, Paris did not indicate them as such-it
reported 100 percent Green List use. While Paris in its documentation
shows three out of nine treatments to be emergency treatments, they
report that the school making the request chose this classification,
but it was not handled as an emergency by the maintenance staff.
During the sample month of September 1998, Paris ISD used
pesticides in and around six schools and administrative buildings.
The total number of applications was nine, with no Green List, one
Yellow List, and eight Red List products used-the worst ratio of
green to yellow and red.
