PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Eliminate Pesticide Application on the Malcolm Price Lab School Grounds
  1. Signatures
    432 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Dean, College of Education, University of Northern Iowa (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Dean, College of Education, University of Northern Iowa (Dr. Dwight Watson)
      • Director, Malcolm Price Laboratory School (Dr. Lyn Countryman)
  2. Created By
    Kristin Woods
    Cedar Falls, IA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

In the summer of 2010, parents of Malcolm Price Lab School students noticed signs near the school garden indicating that pesticides had been applied recently on the adjacent lawn. Parents and community volunteers have worked to cultivate the garden using organic principles, and the practice of spraying chemical pesticides near the garden violates those principles. In addition, a growing body of medical research has suggested that pesticides pose serious threats to the health of children. For these reasons, parents, students, and concerned citizens in the Malcolm Price Lab School community are asking University of Northern Iowa administrators to discontinue to the use of pesticides on and near school grounds. These same parents are willing to work with school administrators to develop and implement safe, effective, and non-chemical solutions.

Recent Signatures

Eliminate Pesticide Application on the Malcolm Price Lab School Grounds

Greetings,

We, the undersigned parents, students, family members, and friends of the Malcolm Price Lab School community, do hereby petition that the use of pesticides be discontinued on and near the Malcolm Price Lab School grounds in order to create and maintain a safe and sustainable environment for our children. Several public health and sustainability concerns underlie this request.

In a systematic review of medical research, the Ontario College of Family Physicians (2007) concluded: “Studies looking at pesticide use and cancer have shown a positive relationship between exposure to pesticides and the development of some cancers, particularly in children” (p. 1705). In addition, a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics found statistically significant relationships between the insecticide Chlorpyrifos (used on corn, beans, wheat, fruits, and vegetables, and for indoor pest control) and delays in learning rates, reduced physical coordination, and behavioral problems in children, especially attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Because medical research has determined that potentially serious risks to health exist for children who are exposed to pesticides, and because practical, effective, and pesticide-free alternatives are available, we believe that the application of these chemicals should be discontinued immediately in and near our school. This is especially the case in situations where pesticides are used for largely cosmetic reasons.

We believe that the elimination of pesticides on and near the Malcolm Price Lab School grounds also supports our recently reaffirmed institutional values. In particular, our university community is dedicated to supporting policies and practices which ensure the following, as outlined in the 2010-2015 UNI Strategic Plan:

Community – an ethical, caring and safe community characterized by civility

Diversity – a welcoming community that celebrates pluralism, multiculturalism, and the unique contributions of each group

Sustainability – an attractive, well-maintained campus environment that enhances the living and learning experience with an emphasis on environmental stewardship

Malcolm Price Lab School parents are offering to work with UNI officials to develop safer solutions.


References

Bassil, K. L., Vakil, C., Sanbom, M., Cole, D. C., Kaur, J. S., & Kerr, K. J. (2007). Cancer health effects of pesticides: systematic review. Can Fam Physician, 53 (10) 1704-1711. Retrieved from http://www.cfp.ca/cgi/reprint/53/10/1704

Rauh, V. A., Garfinkel, R., Perera, F., Andrews, H. F., Hoepner, L., Barr, D. B., Whitehead, R., Tang, Dl, & Whyatt, R. W. (2006). Impact of prenatal Chlorpyrifos exposure on neurodevelopment in the first 3 years of life among inner city children. Pediatrics, 118 (6), e1845-e1859. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0338

University of Northern Iowa Strategic Plan 2010-2015. Retrieved from http://www.uni.edu/strategicplan/

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