In this section, when we refer to "high hazard" pesticides, we are referring to pesticides that can threaten children's long-term health because they may cause cancer, nervous system damage, endocrine (hormone) disruption, or reproductive or developmental harm. The criteria for determining if a pesticide is a high hazard were developed by WTC staff scientists, using readily available data from nationally and internationally respected sources and peer-reviewed science. If any active ingredients in a product meet one of these criteria, then the product is a high hazard pesticide:

May cause cancer in humans

• Classified as a known, likely, probable, or possible carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Classified as a known, likely, probable, or possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
• Classified as known or reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program.
• Listed by the state of California as a known carcinogen.
  

Nervous system toxicant in humans

• Cholinesterase inhibitor.
• Listed as neurotoxic in U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory.
  

Reproductive or developmental toxicant in humans

• Classified as known or reasonably anticipated to be a reproductive or developmental toxicant by the National Toxicology Program.
• Listed by the state of California as a reproductive or developmental toxicant.
  

Disrupts hormonal systems

• Listed by the Illinois EPA as a known, probable, or suspect endocrine disruptor.
  

These are the pesticides reported used by the school districts (PDF file) that responded to a survey by Washington Toxics Coalition. See the second page of the PDF file for a key to terms used.