Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-11-2024
Abstract
The quantity of pesticides used annually in the United States exceeds one billion pounds every year, and the amount is only rising. The current law that governs the use of pesticides—The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), permits the use of 72 known pesticides that have been proven harmful and are banned in other countries. Research links the usage of pesticides to the health of individuals, families, and whole communities within the environment. Moreover, dangerous pesticides have been shown to disproportionately affect children, agricultural workers, people of color, and low-income communities. Despite the mounting evidence that confirms the adverse health effects from these substances, FIFRA’s most updated amendment was nearly 20 years ago. To correct this injustice, passage of The Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act (PACTPA) is paramount. This act would specifically ban the use of organophosphate insecticides, neonicotinoid insecticides and paraquat herbicides and close loopholes that allow the Environmental Protection Agency to approve pesticides before they are properly tested. Utilizing a social-ecological framework, this poster will present the literature related to the use of pesticides and the impact on health status, explore the vulnerability of at-risk groups, and present a detailed analysis of current and future policy initiatives to advance environmental justice.
Recommended Citation
Rossmiller, Julia, "Protecting American Children: A Social-Ecological Analysis of PACTP4" (2024). Student Works. 1.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/sws_student/1
References
Comments
This poster was presented at Lipscomb University's 13th annual Student Scholars Symposium. A list of references is attached as an additional file.