Baltimore City
Health Department

Baltimore City Safe Pest Management for Health Initiative

Overview

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The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) Safe Pest Management for Health Initiative (SPMH) responds to a critical need for safe and effective pest control in a city that suffers disproportionately from the public health threats posed by pest infestations and pesticide use.

Studies show that the rodent infestation rate in Baltimore is six times the national average, and 59% of families visited by BCHD’s Healthy Homes and Communities staff report significant cockroach problems. These infestation rates lead to excessive pesticide use in Baltimore, contributing in turn to several acute public health outcomes. For example, the asthma rate for Baltimore high school students is 28% – 37% above the national average – and the rate of emergency room visits in Baltimore related to asthma is almost triple the statewide rate.

To reduce these risks, protect public health and the environment, and improve the quality of life for the people of Baltimore, SPMH develops strategies and works with partners to increase the use of safer, more effective integrated pest management (IPM) throughout the city. Integrated pest management is a less toxic, more cost-effective and efficient way of managing cockroaches and mice in the indoor urban environment. The strategy involves first identifying and eliminating the conditions that led the pests to enter the building. Preventive measures, such as sealing cracks and properly storing food, are encouraged. If the problem persists, pest control products that cause the least possible hazard to people are employed.

Program Objectives

SPMH objectives to achieve these goals are to:

  • * Engage partnerships for the transformation of pest control practices in six city agencies
  • * Provide IPM training and action plans for 35 sites in the city, including schools, public housing, day care facilities, and homeless services centers
  • * Incorporate IPM training into current home weatherization assessment and contracting
  • * Develop the nation’s first IPM subsidization program for low-income families
  • * Implement an IPM outreach program for Baltimore’s Latino community, training 600 community members
  • * Integrate household IPM education and data collection into BCHD’s home visiting and community outreach programs reaching 1,000 families annually
  • * Disseminate project findings broadly to city, state, and national stakeholders through a regional IPM summit, workshops, community and conference presentations, partnership meetings, and web-based material
  • * Develop a business case analysis demonstrating the efficacy of IPM practices

Evaluation Component

  • SPMH includes a strong evaluation component for measuring results. By meeting the above objectives, BCHD will achieve the following:
  • * Train over 5,450 people in IPM practices and safe pesticide use.
  • * Create and assist with the implementation of IPM action plans for 35 target facilities.
  • * Demonstrate increased IPM knowledge for 80% of training participants.
  • * Reduce pesticide usage by 75% in target sites.
  • * Facilitate adoption of IPM policies for city-owned and managed properties.

The SPMH Initiative will transform pest management practices for the long-term. The City of Baltimore, as articulated in the Sustainability Plan enacted in 2009, is committed to IPM and pesticide use reduction. With such support, policy level changes – combined with the education provided by SPMH Initiative – will make Baltimore a national model for urban IPM.

 

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