Children may also be particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of pesticides. This is because their bodies are still developing, and because behavior like playing on the ground or putting objects in their mouths can lead to higher pesticide exposure. In the year 2000, approximately 73,000 children were poisoned by or otherwise exposed to common household pesticides. Still more children are exposed to pesticides at school, at play and even while eating.

These are serious issues, as pesticides can cause nausea, skin irritation, hormone disruption and even cancer. While it may be difficult to control our children’s exposure to chemical residues that are virtually everywhere (such as DDT in breast milk), it is certainly possible to remove risks of massive exposure to pesticides in the home.

If at all possible, find alternatives to chemical pesticides in your own life. In today’s marketplace there are countless products and services offered as alternatives for your pest-fighting needs. While it is sometimes difficult to sort out advertising claims of being "100% nontoxic" or "environmentally safe," groups like Beyond Pesticides have put together resources to help you find what you’re looking for.

From there, you can also get involved making the necessary policy changes that will protect our children’s health from more widespread threats.

And if for some reason you feel that you must keep pesticides at home, please make sure they are out of children’s reach and securely locked. Teach your child to stay away household chemicals, so that they will be safer at neighbors’ and relatives’ homes. Make sure you only use pesticides according to the instructions, and always dispose of them properly.

In a final positive note, Pennsylvania recently passed two laws that will help reduce children's contact with pesticides at school. The first law requires schools to give parents and staff members prior notice before using dangerous chemicals on school property, allowing them to take steps to
protect their kids. The second law requires schools to take a preventative approach to bugs, weeds and mice called Integrated Pest Management (or IPM). By addressing potential problems before they start, schools will be less likely to need pesticides at all.