How Dangerous are Pesticides?

For example:

A repellent will keep away pests. An attractant will lure pests. A plant regulator stops, speeds up, or otherwise changes normal plant processes. Desiccants and defoliants are harvest aid chemicals used to remove or kill leaves and stems.

When a word ends with the letters i-c-i-d-e, the word means to kill, so, a pesticide is a chemical, which kills pests. Because pesticides are formulated to kill, they are, by their very nature, toxic and some of them are hazardous to people.
The term pesticide is a general category with a large number of subcategories. For example, an insecticide kills insects, a herbicide kills plants, a miticide kills mites, and a rodenticide kills rodents.

There are chemicals which control pests and are classified as pesticides, but they don't have the letters i-c-i-d-e at the end of their names. For example: A repellent will keep away pests. An attractant will lure pests. A plant regulator stops, speeds up, or otherwise changes normal plant processes. Desiccants and defoliants are harvest aid chemicals used to remove or kill leaves and stems.

Here are some of the ways pesticides work.

Contact pesticides kill pests simply by coming in contact with them. Stomach poisons kill by being swallowed by the pest. Systemics kill pests by being taken into the blood of the animal or sap of the plant on which the pest is feeding. Translocated herbicides are pesticides which kill plants by being absorbed by leaves, stems, or roots and moving throughout the plant. Fumigants are gases which kill when they are inhaled or otherwise absorbed by the pests. Selective pesticides are those which kill certain kinds of plants or animals; whereas non-selective pesticides are those which kill most plants or animals.

You can tell how toxic a pesticide is by reading the signal word and symbol on the label. The signal word "Danger" means that the product is highly toxic. You will find the skull and cross bones and the word "Poison" on the label of these products. Rarely are the pesticides in this toxicity category available for home use.

The signal word "Warning" means that the product is moderately toxic. The signal word "Caution" means that the pesticide has a low toxicity or is comparatively free from danger .

There is a statement of practical treatment or first aid directions on the label of every pesticide container. This statement tells you what you should do if the pesticide is accidentally inhaled, swallowed, or brought in contact with skin. If the product is highly toxic there will be a note to physicians on the product label. The pesticide label is the most important information you can take to the physician when someone has been poisoned.

The label on the pesticide container is the best source of information about the particular product. The directions for use will tell you.

1. the crop, animal or other item the product can be used on.
2. how the product should be applied.
3. how much to use.
4. where the material should be applied. And
5. when it should be applied.

For more information and suggestions about the safe and proper use of pesticides; contact your local County Extension Office.