SAGINAW, MI (WNEM) -
State health officials remind parents and guardians of their right to be notified prior to the use of pesticides on school and licensed daycare center property. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) officials also remind school officials to implement an integrated pest management (IPM) program if pesticide applications are made indoors at their facilities.
The state says IPM uses all suitable techniques in a total management system to prevent pests from reaching unacceptable levels or to reduce existing pest populations to acceptable levels.
"One of the main objectives of IPM is to reduce any potential risk of pesticide exposure to children attending Michigan's schools and licensed daycare centers," said Gina Alessandri, MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. "The only pesticides exempted from notification are sanitizers, germicides, disinfectants, antimicrobial agents, or baits and gels."
The school or licensed day care facility administrator is responsible for providing annual, written notification of pesticide application information to parents or guardians. For schools, notification must be provided within 30 days after the beginning of the school year; for licensed day care centers, notification must be provided in September. Schools or daycare centers must provide a 48-hour advance notice prior to a pesticide application.
Additional information about IPM and pesticide notification is available on the MDARD web site at www.michigan.gov/mdard.
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