Safe Levels of Pesticide Exposure

154 pounds! This is an average person’s weight often used for calculating safe levels of exposure to different chemicals. This may be fine for adults, but is unconscionable to use it when setting policy for children. Children are even more at risk because of their maturing organ systems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently has one-size-fits-all standards for pesticide exposure.

But change is in the wind, thanks in part to the initiative of Congressional Representatives Tom Lantos, Henry Waxman, and Bernie Sanders. They called for the General Accounting Office (GAO) probe that resulted in the disturbing report released in April 2000.

The same report, though, is also very encouraging in that it will likely lead to better protection for our children.