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CEPEP Consumer Information Factsheets
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate the sale and usage of pesticides from two main laws: the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These two laws, as well as other statutes which affect the Agency's pesticide programs, are described here on the EPA's website. EPA has a Factsheet on Internet Sales, please click here to follow the link. EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs has a fact sheet on Assessing Health Risks from Pesticides as well as several other Health and Safety Fact Sheets. To learn more about all of the Federal chemical safety programs, as well as information about representative state and non-governmental activities that help guide U.S. chemical safety activities and coordination efforts see the U.S. National Profile on Management of Chemicals. For general pesticide information, including information on labels, storage, and safety, you may wish to explore our General Pesticide Information factsheets. For more information on agricultural pesticides, laws and regulations, and pesticide application training, please see our other CEPEP factsheets located under Pesticide Safety Education . West Nile Virus Information - Return to top -West Nile encephalitis (WNE), a mosquito-transmitted disease, was first documented in North America during the summer of 1999, when an outbreak occurred in New York City. WNE is caused by West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus previously only found in Africa, Eastern Europe, and West Asia. Cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection have been confirmed in northeastern, north central, southern, and western regions of the United States, and the virus is expected to spread throughout North America. On August 15, 2002, three horses and a crow in the state of Colorado tested positive for West Nile Virus. There were 14 positive human cases of WNV in Colorado in 2002, while nationally there were 4,156 positive human cases and 284 deaths. A total of 14,717 cases of WNV infection (from 40 states) have been confirmed in horses through diagnostic testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and 4,300 horses have died or were euthanized. Mosquitoes spread this virus after they feed on infected birds and then bite people, other birds and animals. Most people who become infected with West Nile virus will have either no symptoms or only mild ones. However, on rare occasions, West Nile virus infection can result in severe and sometimes fatal illnesses. Dead birds in an area may mean that West Nile virus is circulating between the birds and the mosquitoes in that area. Over 110 species of birds are known to have been infected with WNV. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, infected with WNV can die or become ill, most infected birds do survive. The public can play an important role in monitoring WNV through reporting dead birds. Colorado began to test dead corvids (includes crows, magpies, ravens, and jays) for WNV in 2001. Persons finding a dead crow (that died within the previous two days) should use gloves when handling a carcass. Information on the collection and submission of a dead corvid is available on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website as well as the submission form. Facts about the Pesticide Sensitive Registry And Mosquito and Other Public Health Pesticide Applications.
Follow this link for Mosquito Management Product Labels and MSDS. Websites concerning WNV spraying and impact on honey bees: There are also several informational websites available: National
CEPEP West Nile Virus Factsheets
EPA Factsheets
Colorado
Pesticide Safety and Children - Return to top -
IPM is a process for achieving long term, environmentally sound pest suppression through the use of a wide variety of technological and management practices. Control strategies in an IPM program extend beyond the application of pesticides to include structural and procedural modifications that reduce the food, water, harborage, and access used by pests. Four Points of IPM:
EPA has several resources to educate the public about ways to prevent children from being poisoned by pesticides and household products:
IPM in Schools - Return to top -Use of IPM principles and practices in the school environment is a growing trend in communities throughout the United States. The implementation of IPM programs in schools began in the 1970's, largely through the efforts of parents concerned with the effects of pesticides on their children. Schools adopting IPM programs report effective pest suppression as well as reduced costs and chemical use. In contrast to traditional pest control, IPM focuses on solving pest problems with a variety of methods, which include; pest monitoring programs, record keeping, increased sanitation and pest exclusion devises. When the management tactics of an IPM program indicate the need for pesticides, the pest management professional selects those materials that have the least impact on the human population at risk of exposure. Furthermore, a concerted effort should be made to apply these pesticides precisely to the smallest possible area.
Colorado ChemSweep ProgramColorado ChemSweep is a program organized and performed by MSE Environmental, Inc., a firm specializing in hazardous material management. This program meets all State and Federal hazardous waste regulations. If you have any unwanted, unused, or banned/outdated pesticide waste that you wish to dispose of, "Colorado ChemSweep" is an environmentally sound and economical disposal option for this material. We have made available a copy of both the ChemSweep informational pamphlet and the registration form for download in .pdf format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat available, follow the link below for a free download. Other Consumer Information Links - Return to top -
Agriculture Bio Security - Return to top -Food and Agricultural Biosecurity Factsheets for Meal Providers/Producers/Processors. |
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