LANSING, Michigan, March 12, 2004 (ENS) –
Michigan has a new law that requires schools and day care centers to
notify parents or legal guardians of children at least 48 hours in advance
that pesticides will be applied to the school’s or center’s property.
The signed the bill into law on Wednesday by Governor Jennifer Granholm
requires schools and day care centers to post advance notice of pesticide
application at the entrance to the facility and in public places inside
the facility.
Granholm said, “This new law will protect children from coming into
contact with chemicals and materials that could be hazardous to their
health.”
The law contains provisions requiring that schools and day care centers
prohibit children from entering areas where pesticides were applied until
it is deemed safe.
Pesticides that linger in a child’s “breathing zone” pose a risk
that the child could become ill or develop long term effects of pesticide
exposure including neurological, respiratory, immune, or endocrine
problems.
“Parents have the right to be notified when their children could be
exposed to pesticides at their school or day care center so that they can
make informed decisions about what to do, such as restricting a child’s
access to certain areas or withholding the child from attending for a
period of days,” Granholm said.
“This new law arms parents with that knowledge, so they can protect
their children as they see fit.”
The facilities also will be required to give annual notice of pesticide
use on the premises. The annual notice requirement allows parents to
review facilities’ past pest management practices and applications.
