Summary

New York State enacted Chapter 85 of the laws of 2010 prohibiting pesticide applications on school and daycare outdoor playing fields. This bill expands that law to protect children from these avoidable hazardous substances by similarly restricting pesticide applications on camp playing fields, areas on which many children spend significant portions of their summers. This bill specifically amends New York’s Public Health Law to prohibit pesticide use on playgrounds, turf, and athletic or playing fields at children’s overnight and day camps except when an emergency application is warranted.

Explanation

Use of toxic pesticides is still allowed at New York’s summer camps. This bill expands the protections from the application of harmful pesticides at children’s camps. We currently rate this bill a “one tree” but it could be rated higher if it were amended to eliminate application of pesticides in aquatic environments (e.g. ponds or lakes) as well. Pesticides should not be used in bodies of water used by campers for aquatic activities.

Children are at greatest risk of exposure to hazardous pesticides because of their developing systems, smaller size, and faster metabolisms. In addition, children are more likely to come into direct contact with pesticides when at play, especially while running, sitting, and playing on treated lawns and fields. They are also at risk due to hand-to-mouth behaviors.

Pesticides are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms and, as such, are highly toxic and hazardous. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that pesticides, depending on type, may damage nervous or endocrine systems, be carcinogenic, harm wildlife, and contaminate air and drinking water.