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Pesticides
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Should You Be Concerned?

Many families are bugged by pests. Cockroaches, flies, rats, and mice carry disease and can get into food. Roaches and house dust mites can make allergies and asthma worse. Fleas and ticks riding into the home on pets or clothing can carry disease. The bites of rats and certain spiders can make children very ill.

Pesticides are things like bug spray, pet flea collars, rat poison, bleach, and garden weed killer that can be used to prevent and kill pests. Pesticides can pose a real danger if you do not use them in the right way. Some may cause poisoning, birth defects, nerve damage, and even cancer. They can make allergies or asthma worse. Breathing fumes or dust from pesticide powders and sprays can be harmful. Touching a floor where pesticides was used can also be a danger.

Children are especially at risk. When they crawl and play on floors and lawns, they can come in contact with pesticides used there. Young children put hands, toys and other things in their mouths. These may have touched pesticide on the floor or grass. Children may get more of the small amounts of pesticides on foods than adults because they eat more of some foods, like apples and carrots.

The biggest danger is poisoning. Children accidentally poison themselves if they play with, eat or drink pesticides that are not stored safely.

Questions to ask?

Why do you have pests?

• Does your home have loose or torn screens or broken windows?
• Are there gaps or holes in the building that let pests in?
• Are counters and floors often dirty? Do dishes go unwashed?
• Is there spilled food anywhere in your home?
• Do you keep your garbage where ants, roaches, rats, mice, or other animals can get into it?
• Does your plumbing or roof leak?
• Do you store food in containers or boxes that don’t have covers?

Do you use pesticides properly?

Never take it for granted that a pesticide is harmless.

• Do you (or a pest control company) ever use air borne pesticides like flea bombs or roach sprays indoors instead of baits? Bombs and sprays spread pesticides over a larger area, making it more likely someone will come in contact with them.
• Do you use flea collars, sprays, or powder on your pets? These contain pesticides that may harm people.
• Do you use pesticides without reading the label?
• Are children or pets in the room when you use pesticides?
• Do you eat, drink or smoke while using a pesticide?
• Do you put bug repellent on your children?
• Do you serve fruits and vegetables without washing them well?

How do you store and dispose of pesticides?

• Do you ever store pesticides in different containers from the package they came in?
• Do you sometimes have extra, leftover pesticides around the house?
• Do you store pesticides where children can reach them?
• Do you store pesticides near food?
• Do you throw empty pesticide containers away without reading the label?
• Do you leave empty pesticide containers out where children can reach them?

Actions steps

Keep a clean home

• Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often. Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.
• Keep a tight lid on trash cans and empty them often.
• Store food in tightly sealed containers.
• Make sure people in your home eat at the table. Don’t let them walk around with food.
• Wipe up spills and crumbs right away.
• Clean your dirty dishes right after eating.
• Clean your home well after treating for roaches to reduce roach allergies.
• Pests need water. Keep them from getting it by fixing leaks and not leaving dish water in the sink overnight.
• Control fleas by washing bedding often, shampooing pets, vacuuming floors, and using flea combs and traps.
• Get rid of stacks of newspaper, papers, bags, and cardboard boxes that make good homes for pests. Recycle them if you can.

Keep pests out of your home

• Seal cracks and crevices where pests can get into your home.
• Check things like bags and boxes for roaches before bringing them inside.
• Teach your children not to share combs, hats, or coats at school or daycare.

Use pesticides safely

• Read the label and follow the instructions. Use only the amount directed and for the purpose listed.
• Place all pesticides, including baits, out of reach of children.
• When using a pesticide, keep children away until it has dried or for the time recommended on the label.
• Protect your skin, your eyes, and your lungs while applying pesticides.
• Always wash your hands after use. Never smoke, eat, or drink while using a pesticide.
• Look for signal words. All pesticide labels include words such as Caution, Warning, or Danger to warn you about a product's hazards.
• Wash clothing you wore while using a pesticide in a separate load from other laundry.
• If you have questions about using a pesticide, call the company that made it. An 800 number is usually on the label. You can also call the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378.
• Mix and use only the amount you need so you don’t have leftovers.
• Mix pesticides outdoors or in an area with plenty of fresh air. (Never mix them inside the kitchen).

Storing & disposing of pesticides

• Store pesticides where children and pets can’t reach them or in a locked cabinet.
• Store pesticides only in the container they came in. Never put them in a soft drink bottle or any other kind of container.
• Follow the directions on the label for the right way to throw away pesticides.
• Never use an empty pesticide container for something else.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

You can reach your local Poison Control Center by calling (800) 222-1222 from anywhere in the country. Put this number next to all of your telephones and where you store your hazardous products.

When in Doubt, Check it Out

EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
(703) 305-5017
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/contacts/index.htm#office

You can order these publications:

Help! It’s A Roach:
A Roach Prevention Activity Book

Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety

10 Tips to Protect Your Family From Pesticide and Lead Poisoning

Pesticides and Child Safety

Pesticides and Food: What You Need to Know

National Pesticide Information Center
(800) 858- 7378
http://npic.orst.edu/

Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Information Service Hotline (888) SAFE-FOOD; (888) 723-33663, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

The Home* A* Syst handbook gives more details about pesticides and other healthy home topics.
(608) 262- 0024
http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst

For more information on non-toxic pest control contact the Bio-Intregal Resource Center
(510) 524-2567
http://www.birc.org/

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This chapter was written by Kadi Row, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. ©2002 University of Wisconsin Extension. All Rights Reserved.