Homeowner Pesticide Safety
a pesticide in a safe and effective manner. When used correctly and by the label, a product should have little risk to the environment and nontarget items.
Again, I am not debating in this article the use or non-use of pesticides. We offer advice on non-chemical options. The goal today is to discuss pesticide safety for clients that wish to use products in and around the home. I will be sharing information from a UGA publication revised by Tim Daley, Gwinnett County Extension Agent.
For starters, depending on the problem, you need to determine if a pesticide is called for in the first place. You first need to identify the problem and then look at the available options. For example, you may have a rodent problem on the property. Before using a rodenticide product, you may determine that sanitation efforts such as securing trash cans, sealing up pet food and removing rodent hiding places may solve the problem. After an evaluation, you may determine a pesticide is the best option to help your ailing rose bush or to eradicate a bad lawn weed issue. If you do use a recommended pesticide product, keep some of these important tips in mind.
You need to always read the label. The goal of the label is to keep you safe and to give you the most efficient use of that particular product. I will add that it seems there are more and more products on the market, so reading the label may keep you from making a mistake in application. On a label, you should see the common name for the pesticide, a chemical name or active ingredient, of course the brand name, the formulation of that product and signal words. A signal word is the potential hazard of that particular product to humans. You may see words such as “danger,” “warning” or “caution.” The signal word should have a toxicity level associated with it and how much of the product it would take to give a lethal dose if used incorrectly. The label will give a statement on the product, first aid steps if needed and directions on how to use that product. You will see misuse statements making it very clear that it is illegal to use a product in a manner not stated by the product label. I will add that add that many times, people will use a higher rate that is indicated on a label. The rates are there for a reason and a higher rate will not help the product work better in your problem solving effort.
Note that some labels will state for you to wear certain clothing when applying. We suggest to wear liquid proof gloves and shoes, a long sleeve shirt, long pants and a wide brimmed hat when applying. You do not need to eat, drink or even smoke while using a pesticide. Wash your hands prior. Some products may require a mixing or dilution of that product. If so, do in a well-ventilated spot. There may be some pesticide use situations that require spraying of shelves in a kitchen. You need to remove all of the dishes, pots and pans, plus any food items prior to spraying. Do not return anything to the shelf until they are dry. Remove children’s toys and pets from spots that are going to be sprayed, too.
Keep water safety in mind also. We suggest to avoid mixing or applying pesticides near wells or open water. Care for our pollinators, such as honey bees, should be high on your list. Do not apply pesticides to blooming plants especially if you see pollinators in the area. If you must spray, do so in the early evening when the pollinators are not as active and use a non-dust product formulation.
How you store your used pesticides is important, too. Do not store pesticides near food, seed, flammable items or animals. Pesticides need to be stored in a locked and secure place where children, pets or other people cannot access. Do not store pesticides in old food or drink containers. This practice can be a tragedy waiting to happen. Storing pesticides in food or drink containers can make people think the product is something to drink or eat. There are many stories of death situations where a child or even adults consume a lethal dose of a pesticide stored in another container.
Finally, pesticides are one option in some situations. You need to identify the problem and find a solution that works for you. If pesticides are something you will use, make sure you do so in a safe fashion by the product label.
For more information, contact UGA ExtensionGordon County at 706-6298685 or email gbowman@ uga.edu.