Pesticide/Toxin Audit

Overview

According to a recent study, students who are exposed to insecticides indoors are nearly 50% more likely to develop leukemia or lymphoma. Children are more affected by pesticides than adults because their bodies are more vulnerable to toxins. In fact, children are more likely to encounter toxins in everyday life. Children are closer to the ground, and thus tend to play on grass that has been sprayed with pesticides, on floors that have been recently cleaned with chemicals, or on playgrounds that have been made with toxic materials. This activity allows students to work with their school or district to remove or reduce the use of pesticides/toxins on campus while auditing and researching pesticide use.