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. First, let's answer your question: “Is pest control safe for humans? The answer, unfortunately, depends entirely on the type of pest control you use. It needs to be said that all pest control contains chemicals intended to kill insects, so regardless of how safe pest control is, if used incorrectly, it can cause harm.
However, when used correctly, many pest controls can be safe to use. For the most part, pest control chemicals are completely safe. However, they must be handled with care by someone who is trained to use them or safety could become an issue. Even if a very toxic pesticide is used close to your home, the risk may still be low.
If you're not exposed to the pesticide, it can't harm you. In some cases, a pesticide can be used without people coming into contact with it. Some groups of people, such as the elderly, people with health problems, pregnant women, and babies and children, may be more sensitive to a pesticide than other people. If you need to control pests on your property and want the peace of mind that a team of professionals is taking all safety precautions, give us a call.
For example, professional one-way pest control is safe for humans in your home, as professionals have much more experience in pest control than you do. Skin contact, inhalation and ingestion are the three main ways of being exposed to the harmful effects of pesticides. When pest control comes to spraying your home, it's best to plan to be out of your home while treatment is being applied. Understanding the risk of specific pesticides can help you decide if you want to use them or not, or help you choose between two different products.
Finally, as mentioned above, professional pest control often goes out of its way by using treatments that are suitable for children because they know how important it is to keep their home and family safe. The toxicity of a pesticide, its formulation and how much it touches, eats or inhales are important considerations. So what do we do when they attack? More often than not, residents of Matthew, North Carolina, resort to spraying chemical pesticides that were purchased at the store, hoping to completely eliminate pests. You know that pest control is made up of all kinds of chemicals, and you don't know what chemicals, if any, you feel comfortable having in your home.
This document is intended to be educational in nature and useful to consumers when making decisions about pesticide use. No matter the method of treatment, there is always a certain degree of risk associated with the use of a pesticide. On your own, you can also learn to differentiate between the different pesticide products on the market. Mix or dilute pesticides outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and only in quantities that will be needed immediately.
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