The long-term health effects of organophosphorous (OP) pesticide exposure in children is unknown, yet a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that 99 percent of preschool children in Seattle had a metabolite of OP exposure. The researchers found no significant difference in the children related to “season, community, sex, age, family income, or housing type.” The University of Washington study concluded that while much of this exposure was likely due to diet, garden pesticide use also was linked to the elevated metabolites, and recommended that OP pesticide use be avoided where children play. For the full abstract, click here.

What You Can Do

You can join the growing ranks of parents who Just Say No to pesticide use. Here are some hands-on tips from Care2 for safer alternatives:

The Care2 “In the Home” channel offers many tips such
as these for less toxic pest control.
· Sugar Ant Hotel
· Food Moth-Away
· Tick Repellant
· Safe Mosquito Control
· Packing Those Sweaters Away Safely
· Homemade Insecticidal Soap
· Make Your Own Bat Box
Click here for HOME links..

The Care2 “Garden” channel offers many tips such
as these for less toxic pest control.
· Beautiful Alternatives to Lawns
· Nontoxic Weed Control
· Organic Fertilizers
· Weed Control
· Lawn Fertilizers
· Lawn Care Equipment
· Natural Lawn Care Company
· Poison Ivy Killer
· Make Your Own Bat Box

· Better Basic Bug Spray
· Treated Seeds

· Soil Testing
· Organic Gardening 101
· Safe Substitute for Pressure-Treated Wood
· Homemade Insecticidal Soap

· Snare those Slugs and Snails!
· Mitigate Mildew

· A Less Toxic Dormant Oil
· Organic Gardening 101
Click here for GARDEN links..