Children encounter pesticides every day and
are uniquely vulnerable to their toxicity. A new policy statement from the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlines the harmful effects of pesticides
on children and makes recommendations on how to reduce exposure. The policy
statement, “Pesticide Exposure in Children,” and an accompanying technical report are published in the December 2012 issue of Pediatrics (released online
Nov. 26). Prenatal and early childhood exposure to pesticides is associated with
pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems.
According to the AAP, recognizing and reducing children’s exposure to pesticides
will require improved medical training, public health tracking, and regulatory
approaches. The AAP recommends pediatricians become familiar with the effects of
acute and chronic exposures to pesticides; learn what resources are available
for both treatment of acute poisoning and addressing lower dose chronic
exposures in children; and understand pesticide labeling. Pediatricians should
ask parents about pesticide use around the home and yard, offer guidance about
safe storage, and recommend parents choose lowest-harm approaches when
considering pest control. Pediatricians should also work with schools and
government agencies to advocate for the least toxic methods of pest control, and
to inform communities when pesticides are being used in the area. The policy
statement also makes a number of recommendations for government, including
specific recommendations related to marketing, labeling, use and safety of
pesticides to minimize children’s
exposure.
###
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000
primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and
pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and
well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more
information, visit www.aap.org.
