WESTMINSTER, Colorado – February 1, 2018 –Today marks the beginning of National Pesticide Safety Education Month, an initiative of the National Stakeholder Team for Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) Funding. Preventing safety concerns during pesticide transport, storage, application, and disposal are just some of the many goals of land-grant university PSEPs and other public and private sector groups that promote pesticide safety.
“PSEPs and other educators work throughout the year to teach safe handling of pesticides from purchase to disposal,” says Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D., Director of Science Policy for the Weed Science Society of America. “National Pesticide Safety Education Month is intended to highlight and enhance safe use practices by everyone.”
Pesticides are often erroneously thought to be insecticides only, but include herbicides, fungicides, disinfectants, sanitizers, and many other types. ”Thousands of pesticide products are sold in the U.S., and safe handling has a tremendous positive impact on the protection of human health and the environment,” notes Kristine Schaefer, Ph.D., Program Manager of the Pesticide Safety Education Program at Iowa State University. “For example, most pesticide accidents in the U.S. are due to improper storage, and involve someone who was not even using the pesticide.”
Visit the National Pesticide Safety Education Month webpage to learn more about this new initiative, access helpful information, do a self-assessment of your personal pesticide safety practices, and more.
Organizations interested in becoming a sponsor of National Pesticide Safety Education Month are encouraged to complete and submit the sponsor commitment form located on the webpage. Current sponsors of 2018 National Pesticide Safety Education Month are Syngenta and Valent U.S.A. LLC.
About the National Stakeholder Team for Pesticide Safety Education Program Funding
The National Stakeholder Team for PSEP Funding is a team committed to strengthening and supporting the state land-grant university Pesticide Safety Education Programs. It has members from almost 100 organizations, including state regulatory agencies, universities, companies and associations.
About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.
About the American Phytopathological Society
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a nonprofit, professional scientific organization. The research of the organization’s slightly less than 5,000 worldwide members advances the understanding of the science of plant pathology and its application to plant health. For more information, visit www.apsnet.org.
About the Entomological Society of America
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 6,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry and government. Members are researchers, teachers, extension services personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, students and hobbyists. For more information, visit www.entsoc.org.
Contact:
Lee Van Wychen
Science Policy Director
National & Regional Weed
Science Societies
[email protected]
202-746-4686