Pesticides are chemicals used to kill things like bugs, rodents, mold or weeds. You can use some pesticides in your home. Others are for use only outside or on crops.
While pesticides may be helpful in keeping your home pest-free, they can cause health problems for your baby. You may not be able to protect your baby from all pesticides, but there are things you can do to limit your baby’s exposure to (contact with) them
How is your baby exposed to pesticides?
Your baby may come in contact with pesticides as part of everyday life. Pesticides may be in:
Air and water
Bug sprays
Cleaning products, like bleach
Food. Farmers may use pesticides on food crops to protect them from insects.
Lawn and garden products, like weed killer. Grass in public spaces, like parks, may be treated with pesticides to keep bugs away and weeds from growing.
Pet products, like flea and tick shampoo
Rodent poisons, like mouse or rat bait
How can pesticides affect your baby’s health?
Pesticides are more dangerous for babies and children than adults because their bodies are still developing. Some research shows that exposure to pesticides as a baby may be linked to childhood cancer and development or behavior problems. But other studies haven’t found these links, so we need more research.
Pesticides can be poisonous to your baby if she:
Swallows them
Breathes in large amounts from the air
Absorbs large amounts through her skin
Your baby may have pesticide poisoning if he has:
Belly pain
Bleeding in the nose or gums
Coughing or trouble breathing
Diarrhea, nausea (feeling sick to his stomach) or throwing up
Dizziness
Headache
Seizures
If you think your baby has pesticide poisoning, call 911 or the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222
How can you keep your baby safe from pesticides in food?
Feed your child organic foods. These are foods that are grown without pesticides.
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. They may have fewer pesticides on them when they’re in season.
Wash and scrub all fruits and vegetables under running water. This helps clean away any pesticides they may have on them.
Peel fruits and vegetables and throw away outer leaves of leafy vegetables.
Trim fat from meat and skin from poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.) and fish. How can you keep your baby safe from pesticides in your home or yard?
Use something other than chemicals, like mousetraps or sticky traps, instead of pesticides. Be careful not to set traps in places where children can get to them.
Baby proof your home. Lock cleaning products, bug sprays, rat poison and other pesticides in cabinets out of your baby’s reach. Never put pesticides in a container that your baby may think is a food or drink. Keep your baby, pets and toys away from places where you’ve used pesticides.
Put food, dishes and utensils away before using a pesticide.
Clean up food and water that may attract pests. Wipe up spills and clean up crumbs right away. Fix leaky water pipes.
Community resources;
New Jersey
1) New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF)
NJEF is a non-profit organization fighting to protect natural resources and clean up pollution in New Jersey. It is the New Jersey chapter of Clean Water Action.
Jane Nogaki NJ Environmental Federation 223 Park Ave Marlton NJ 08053
856-767-1110
856-768-6662 fax janogaki@cleanwater.org www.cleanwateraction.org/njef
2) March of Dimes National Office 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 997-4488
National resource
Safe Kids Worldwide1301 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20004 Phone: 202.662.0600202.662.0600 Fax: 202.393.2072 - See more at: http://www.safekids.org/contact-us#sthash.KGnSZ6Zk.dpuf
Web based resource
www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/kidpesticide.htm
