Reducing Pesticide Exposures in Child Care Centers

The goal of the study was to reduce children's exposure to pesticides in child care centers to improve their long-term health. A randomized-control trial in five northern California counties compared changes in director's IPM knowledge and self-efficacy, written IPM policies, IPM practices, number of pests and concentration of pesticides between child care centers assigned to an IPM intervention versus an attention control intervention on physical activity. Eighty-five child care center directors working in centers serving preschool-age children were enrolled. The child care health consultant-led intervention included an educational workshop, materials and tools, and center-specific consultation over seven months. In addition, the study included novel methods of measuring pesticide concentrations in child care centers (dust) and individual children (silicone wristbands). The study aims were to determine if an IPM intervention (1) increases child care center's director's IPM knowledge and self-efficacy, (2) improves center's IPM practices and policies, (3) reduces the number of pests present, (5) reduces pesticide exposures in child care center environments in the intervention IPM child care centers compared to the control centers.