Parents ask questions at your school!! I have been volunteering at my son's local nursery and to my horror after school during term time they were visited by pest controllers who proceeded to spray the playground, playground equipment, grassed areas and the areas of the small nature garden I was working on. He told me that this was perfectly normal at all schools and that he used a selective herbicide that wouldn't effect any of the plants that the children were growing, some I might add were edible. Apparently I was told this is the norm and I had nothing to worry about.
When I looked on the web to get some answers it has just made me even more concerned especially for nursery aged children. I read that the chemicals contained in most commonly used herbicides are proved to be cancer causing. In fact they are also linked to many abnormalities of mental and physical development and can build up in the body over time and may even effect fertility and the nervous system later in life. These chemicals are particularly dangerous for young children. Internet propaganda? How true is this? It is difficult to find specific information on UK schools but I read in the USA the use of chemicals in play areas has been something that has been taken as a serious health risk and measures are now being brought in to protect children.
It seems pointless to buy organic food and filter tap water when children are playing in these poisoned spaces. Does anyone know what chemicals are being used, how often and actually how great is the health risk? How much does this cost local authorities? Is it necessary or just standard operating procedure? What safe guards are in place?
The children's nature area I was working on was supposed to attract bees and other insects, we were hoping to grow more vegetables and fruit. Is this a pointless exercise too? Isn't the use of pesticides partly if not the reason for the decline in wildlife in the first place? Please if anyone can answer any of my questions and put my mind at rest that would be great but I fear not.
NB. The sites I looked at were: Health and environment alliance, Pan-uk and an article in the Ecologist. Local authorities had little information available on chemicals used and need to be contacted directly, so best to go direct to schools and ask.