Just as spring weather brings out your green thumb, it also brings out insects. For parents, it is important to exercise caution when choosing what you will use to deter those pests because your children may be at risk.
If you have a garden, chances are you have experienced the frustration of picking a ripe tomato or squash, only to find it was the afternoon snack of a hungry insect. Before you exact your revenge, remember that chemical pesticides may have effects not only on bugs, but on your family as well.
“Although commercially available pesticides are less harmful than they were years ago, they may still cause cases of asthma and allergies in children,” says S. Eliza Halcomb, MD, emergency physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and director of toxicology in the emergency division of Washington University School of Medicine. “Pesticides once contained extremely harmful substances, such as arsenic and strychnine, but they now contain much safer, synthetic chemicals.”
If you choose to use chemical pesticides, store them in a locked and out-of-reach location to avoid any chance of an accident. According to Dr. Halcomb, older pest deterrents and rodent poisons pose the most serious threat to children.
“Rat poisons have an anti-clotting effect, so children who ingest them are at risk of severe bleeding if cut or scraped,” Dr. Halcomb says. “Unexplained bruising, blood in the urine, nausea or vomiting after seemingly innocent head trauma could be signs of a toxic ingestion. You should contact your doctor or local poison control center immediately.”
Chemical Alternatives
If the potential dangers of chemical pesticides worry you, know that nonchemical options exist to help keep your children safe.
“Some good alternatives are insecticidal soap, alcohol wipes and Neem oil,” says Gary Wangler, HTR, horticultural therapist and manager of St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Olson Family Garden. “Because children can have sensitive medical conditions, we take every safety precaution with the products we use. These chemical alternatives keep insects away from leaves and stems and are much safer than traditional pesticides.”
If you suspect your child may have ingested a poisonous substance, call Poison Control at 800.222.1222.