Exposure to pesticides can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, damage the central nervous system and kidneys, and increase the risk of cancer. Symptoms due to pesticide exposure may include headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, and nausea. An Official U.S. Government Website Using Official Websites.
Gov A. the government website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or control pests, including bacteria, fungi and other organisms, as well as insects and rodents. According to a recent survey, 75 percent of the U.S.
UU. Households used at least one pesticide product indoors during the past year. The most commonly used products are insecticides and disinfectants. Another study suggests that 80 percent of most people's exposure to pesticides occurs indoors and that measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the air inside homes.
Sold as sprays, liquids, sticks, powders, crystals, balls and nebulizers. In 1990, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that about 79,000 children were involved in common household poisoning or pesticide exposures. In households with children under five years of age, almost half stored at least one pesticide product within reach of children. In addition to the active ingredient, pesticides also consist of ingredients that are used to transport the active agent.
These carrier agents are called inert in pesticides because they are not toxic to the target pest; however, some inerts are capable of causing health problems. National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) Pesticides are classified as semi-volatile organic compounds and include a variety of chemicals in various forms. In addition, the EPA is concerned that cyclodienes can cause long-term damage to the liver and central nervous system, as well as an increased risk of cancer. Early Research Shows Widespread Presence of Pesticide Residues in Households.
Read the label and follow the instructions. It is illegal to use any pesticide in any way that does not comply with the instructions on its label. Unless you have undergone special training and are certified, never use a pesticide that is restricted to state-certified pest control operators. These pesticides are simply too dangerous for an uncertified person to apply.
Use only pesticides approved for use by the general public and then only in recommended amounts; increasing the amount offers no further protection from pests and can be harmful to you and your plants and pets. Ventilate the area well after using pesticides. Use non-chemical methods of pest control when possible. Termite damage can be reduced or prevented by ensuring that wood construction materials do not come into direct contact with the ground and by storing firewood away from the home.
By properly fertilizing, watering and aerating lawns, the need for chemical pesticide treatments for lawns can be drastically reduced. If you decide to use a pest control company, choose one carefully. If you have unused or partially used pesticide containers that you want to dispose of, dispose of them according to label instructions or on special household hazardous waste collection days. If there are no such collection days in your community, work with others to organize them.
Keep exposure to moth repellents to a minimum. A pesticide often found in the home is paradichlorobenzene, an active ingredient commonly used in moth repellents. This chemical is known to cause cancer in animals, but there is substantial scientific uncertainty about the effects, if any, of long-term human exposure to paradichlorobenzene. EPA requires that products containing paradichlorobenzene carry warnings, such as avoiding breathing vapors, to warn users of possible short-term toxic effects.
Whenever possible, paradichlorobenzene and items that need to be protected against moths should be placed in trunks or other containers that can be stored in areas that are ventilated separately from the home, such as attics and separate garages. Paradichlorobenzene is also the key active ingredient in many air fresheners (in fact, some moth repellent labels recommend that these same products be used as air fresheners or deodorants). Proper ventilation and basic household cleaning will go a long way in preventing unpleasant odors. If chemicals must be used, use only recommended amounts, mix or dilute pesticides outdoors or in an isolated, well-ventilated area, apply to unoccupied areas, and dispose of unwanted pesticides safely to minimize exposure.
EPA Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (PDF) (53 pgs., 4.17 MB, About PDF) Pest Management in Schools. Designed to encourage school officials to adopt IPM practices to reduce children's exposure to pesticides; includes information on starting a program, success stories, and funding. Most household insect sprays contain plant-based chemicals called pyrethrins. These chemicals were originally isolated from chrysanthemum flowers and are generally not harmful.
However, they can cause life-threatening respiratory problems if inhaled. Insect sprays, herbicides, and basically any type of eradicating chemical scare people. Consider the case of glyphosate, a 40-year-old herbicide that many consider extremely safe. However, in recent years, concern about its effects on people and the environment has increased, leading to legal cases and an increase in requests for its regulation.
Pyrethrins are where it gets confusing. Pyrethrins in their natural state are generally safe, made from the chrysanthemum flower. However, to increase the impact of this pesticide, scientists have created many synthesized versions. Allethrin, Cyfluthrin and Resmethrin are just a few examples.
They are used in all forms of pesticides, from sprays to nebulizers and baits. These man-made improvements change the composition, making them harmful if not used properly. The purpose here is to cause pesticides to break down into simple chemicals that do no harm. Mix or dilute pesticides outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and only in quantities that will be needed immediately.
The exposure of children and pets to chemicals is greater than that of adults, since they are closer to the ground when they play, which is also where pesticides settle. Of course, you can always do your own pest control, and it doesn't have to involve the toxic cockroach sprays you can find in the automotive aisle of your local supermarket. NPIC provides objective, science-based information on pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. Most pesticides on the market today are chemicals developed by scientists in a laboratory and manufactured in factories.
You can contact your local poison control center directly by calling the toll-free national Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-122) from anywhere in the United States. In addition, the authors of the study state that “this is the first childhood case report of pyrethroid pesticide toxicity that manifests itself in facial paresthesias. On the other hand, if you are already overwhelmed by pests such as cockroaches, ants, flies, mosquitoes, weevils, bed bugs, poisonous spiders, or some other pest, be sure to contact the best and safest pest control service in Matthews, NC. According to the Cornell University Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (which happens to be a federally mandated program), “The effect of a pesticide, or any substance, depends on several factors.
Since pesticides can be found far from the site of their original application, it is prudent to reduce the use of chemical pesticides both outdoors and indoors. The information in this publication does not replace or replace in any way the restrictions, precautions, instructions or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirement, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U. . .
