A total of 637 licensed child care centers responded to the survey conducted for DPR by the Center for Children's Environmental Health Research at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health. The survey questionnaire was mailed to 2,000 randomly-selected child care centers out of approximately 12,000 licensed centers in California.

Ninety percent of California child care centers that responded to the survey on pest problems and pesticide use reported at least one indoor or outdoor pest problem, according to a report released today by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Ants were cited as the No. 1 problem both inside and outside the facilities.

The survey found that many of the child care centers that responded are using pesticide sprays and foggers that can potentially expose children and staff to residues on surfaces and in the air, and that many are not complying with notification requirements. It also found that although most centers were not familiar with the phrase "IPM," many seem to understand the concepts and are using IPM methods.

IPM is a strategy to prevent and treat pest problems using a combination of prevention, monitoring, record keeping and control methods such as eliminating food sources and sealing cracks and crevices in buildings where pests can enter. Chemical controls that pose the least possible hazard to human health and the environment are used only after careful monitoring and when non-chemical methods have failed. The use of pesticides contained in baits, gels or traps are exempt from the law.

Here is a link to the DPR survey for further information:

http://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/childcare/pest_mgt_childcare.pdf

BED BUG SEMINARS

On Sept. 8, 2010 in Oakland and on Sept. 10, 2010 in Anaheim, PCOC and NPMA will be hosting all-day seminars on bed bugs. Our target audience will be the hotel industry, apartment managers association, property managers and other related associations. These seminars will include presentations on bed bug facts and will include a panel of California PCOs to answer questions. At each location will be an exhibit hall where PCOC member companies will be able to sponsor a booth and be available to interact with the seminar participants. You will find registration forms on the association website under "Upcoming Events."

EPA RENOVATION, REPAIR AND PAINTING PROGRAM

PCOC will continue to monitor this federal EPA program and provide updates on a timely basis.

ENDANGERED SPECIES STIPULATED INJUNCTION

PCOC will continue to monitor this federal EPA program and provide updates on a timely basis.

DONATIONS TO DR. VERNARD LEWIS'S LAB

It is important for the industry to continue its support of Dr. Lewis's lab. Several donations have been made and can be viewed on the lab's website at: http://nature.berkeley.edu/upmc/funding.php

PCOC still maintains a link to make donations on our website under the "protecting the consumer" link.