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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Training School Purchasing Officers and Extension Agent Trainers to Increase IPM Adoption in Tennessee's Child-Serving Facilities

Project Director (PD): Karen Vail [1]

Lead State: TN Lead Organization: University of Tennessee

Extension Funding: $25,339

Start Date: Jan-01-2004 End Date: Jan-01-2006

Area of Emphasis: school IPM

Summary: Children can spend six to seven hours a ay at school and nine to 12 hours per day at a child care center thereby increasing their risk of pesticide exposure if pesticides have been applied in a manner inconsistent with integrated pest management (IPM). Children are physiologically more susceptible to harm  their inhalation rate is greater than that of adults, developing cells are more susceptible to damage, toxins concentrate more rapidly in smaller bodies, their enzyme detoxification systems are not fully developed and their behavior (hand-to-mouth activity and sitting on floors) increases the likelihood of ingesting or being exposed to toxins. While research regarding the extent of harm that pesticides may cause to children continues to emerge, there is sufficient data "to be prudent to reduce or, where possible, eliminate pesticide exposure to children, given their increased vulnerability and susceptibility" (Zahm and Ward 1998). IPM aims to reduce exposure to pests and pesticides and is a process that extends beyond the application of pesticides to include reduction of food, water, harborage, and access used by pests. In an IPM program, pest populations are prevented; pesticides are used only "as needed"; the least hazardous pesticide effective for control of targeted pests is selected; and pesticides are targeted to areas not contacted or accessible to children or staff. Objectives: Integrating IPM into schools is an essential strategy for limiting pesticide exposure, yet this strategy does not reach preschool age children who may be at even greater risk physiologically. To further outreach in child-serving facilities in Tennessee, we propose a three-component plan to reduce risk associated with pests and pesticides in Tennessee's schools and licensed child care centers by increasing IPM adoption. Initially, we will train school purchasing officers to understand IPM and develop their own bid specifications. Then, we will train Extension agents and Child Care Resource Center personnel to provide IPM workshops to child care workers using the train-the-trainer method as is done with Master Gardeners. Finally, a state award/ recognition system and IPM continuum will be developed to acknowledge child-serving facilities that reduce pesticide risks and to market IPM in such facilities.

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