West
Virginia
School IPM
Managing Pests and Pesticides for a
Healthy School Environment
Integration: Using a variety of
means to manage a pest for long
term solutions.
Understanding
Integrated Pest
Management
(IPM)
Pests are not the problem, but a
symptom of a problem. Eliminate
the problem and the symptom is
dealt with long term.
Cultural, Sanitation and
Maintenance Practices are the
cornerstone element to a pest
free school.
Examples of IPM Practices
• Eliminating food, water and
harborage areas
• Stinging insects can cause
anaphylaxis
• Some pests (i.e., flies,
mosquitos) can spread disease
Asthma and Pests
In a single school year asthma accounts for 12.8 million missed school days,
making it the leading cause of school absenteeism (Akimbami 2006).
Students with persistent asthma and asthma related absences achieve lower test
scores and lower academic achievement (Moonie et al. 2008)
Triggers include: Pesticides, Cleaning Products, Aerosols, Cockroaches, Rodents,
etc.
IPM reduces exposure to pests and pesticides and has been shown to lower
asthma six times more than conventional spraying (Nalyanya et al. 2009)
Other Health Risks From Pests & Pesticides
Pests
Pesticides
• Rodents and Cockroaches are
• Asthma triggers
key asthma triggers
• Stinging insects can cause
anaphylaxis
• Some pests (i.e., flies,
mosquitos) can spread disease
• Unknown long term exposure
impacts in some cases
Background on WV School Integrated Pest
Management
• National initiative to minimize pesticide use in schools led by
Environmental Protection Agency. US Bills introduced to nationally
mandate IPM (would be more stringent than WV Rule)
• West Virginia Legislature passed School Pest Management Law in
1996 (Title 61 Series 12J) authorizing WV Dept. Agriculture to
regulate use of pesticides in schools
• 23 states now have required IPM at schools; additional states require
certain components such as parent notification of pesticide
applications
• No routine use of pesticides. All applications
must follow a 4 level procedure:
• 1: Non-chemical control measures
• 2: Least Hazardous Pesticides (baits, dusts) with low
Synopsis of
WV IPM Rule
(Title 61
Series 12J)
Requirements for all Public and
Private Schools as well as Day
Cares
exposure and min Caution on label
• 3: Crack & Crevice/Spot Treatments
• 4: Broadcast Applications or pesticides with Warning or
Danger on label
• Maintain IPM File in School Office (containing
maps of treatments, pest monitoring data,
labels/MSDS for pesticides used in case of
emergency care, adopted action thresholds,
sanitation & maintenance reports)
• Parents and Employees notified 24 hrs in
advance of level 3 or 4 application. Restricted
entry period enforcement.
Cockroaches
The most significant pest for health risks
• German cockroach is the quickest to populate
and is the most difficult of the cockroach
species to control
• Oriental cockroaches (water bugs) do not
populate as quickly and typically live in
drains, basements, damp, dark areas.
• Most necessary step is proper sanitation,
cultural practices and elimination of water &
food sources.
• Baiting is extremely effective
Rodents
All schools at risk
• Mice are very opportunistic and can enter through a
hole the size of a nickel
• Urine, saliva and feces can trigger asthma
• Eliminating entry points is a major point of
emphasis
• Eliminating food sources and routine
monitoring
• Mechanical trapping and baiting
Bed Bugs
The Pest of the 2010’s
• Take blood meals from sleeping humans
• Bat Bugs look very similar
• Number One Rule: DO NOT PANIC and overreact. If found on child or belongings
there is no need to send child home. Similar to head lice, the School Nurse
should continue to monitor the student and belongings until situation is
resolved.
• Sample letters are available to send home to parents of student educating them
on bed bug management at home. Also, a sample notification letter is available
to send to parents of students in the classroom to minimize hysteria and
educate them on how to monitor properly.
• Treatment of room is typically ineffective and should only be performed by a
licensed professional pest control business with experience in bed bug
management.
Head Lice
Not a Pest Control Situation
• Use of pesticides on people is not regulated by the WVDA, but
use of pesticides on the environment is.
• Treating entire rooms is unnecessary and unsafe
• Since lice pose minimal risks, pesticide use on humans should
be determined by a physician
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onQLVmfP7XQ&feature=plcp
Communication and Involvement
• Pest Control cannot be handed
off to a contractor. IPM involves
effort from all stakeholders.
• Facilities that are pest efficient
Indoor & Outdoor Pest
Control Professional
Facilities/Maintenance
Staff
Administration,
Faculty, Food Services
and Health Care
Professionals
Stakeholders such as
Parents, Health Dept.
Sanitarians, etc.
are also energy efficient.
• Pressure to eliminate pests
without understanding
regulation and biology leads to
violations and greater health
risks
Philip Smith
School IPM Compliance
WV Dept Agriculture
304-558-2209
psmith@wvda.us
Also check out
youtube.com/schoolIPM
Akimbami L.J. 2006. The State of Childhood Asthma, United States, 1980-2005.
Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics: no. 381, Hyattsville, MD: National
Center for Health Statistics, 2006
Moonie, S., Sterling, D.A., Figgs, L.W., and Castro, M. 2008. The relationship between
school absence, academic performance, and asthma status. J. School Health 78(3):140-148
Nalyanya G., J.C. Gore, H.M. Linker and C. Shal. 2009. German cockroach allergen levels in
North Carolina Schools: Comparison of Integrated Pest Management and conventional
Cockroach control. J Medical Entymology 46:420-427.