Rising Concern Over Pesticide Use On Community Sports Fields.

Parents and pediatricians have become increasingly more concerned about the synthetic chemicals that children are exposed to on a daily basis. Children often come into contact with managed turfgrass several times throughout the day, beginning with their own front lawn and regularly involving the playgrounds and sports fields at their local school. Significant amounts of resources are invested in the proper management of turfgrass systems that often include the application of synthetic pesticides. Public outcry concerning the use and possible exposure to these chemicals has become a reoccurring subject at local school board meetings. As a result, legislation that severely restricts or even prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides on school grounds has been introduced or passed by multiple states over the last several years. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics published information expressing a growing body of evidence that indicates a correlation between pesticide exposure and negative health impacts to children. Pediatricians are now becoming more familiar with pesticide labels and are receiving additional education about the effects of acute and chronic exposure to pesticides. The pesticide industry is quick to point out that it’s extremely important for parents to locate credible sources of information in order to make accurate and informed choices. Education is the most important step that parents can take to protect their children from pesticide exposure. There are obviously two sides to this issue. Pesticides play an important role in the eradication of harmful pests and are often an integral component of a successful turfgrass management program for the production of a “functional” athletic field.