Safe use of pesticides
is important to
persons of all ages.
Older adults may
be more susceptible
to these chemicals
because of changes
their bodies are going
through as part of the
normal aging process.
Safe Steps to Rid
Your Home and
Garden of Pests
Information for Older Adults and
Family Caregivers
July 2005
Many products we use
inside and outside our
homes contain strong
chemicals and poisons.
These products may come in spray cans,
as a powder, as a gel, or as a liquid. The
word "Pesticides" refers to all of the fol-
lowing chemicals that are applied in the
home and garden to kill pests.
• Insecticides kill pests such as fleas,
mice, ticks, cockroaches, spiders,
and mosquitoes.
• Herbicides kill weeds, poison ivy,
crab grass, and other things you do
not want in your lawn or garden.
• Disinfectants kill germs on sinks,
tubs, toilets, countertops, and other
surfaces.
• Rodenticides kill mice and rats.
Eight out of ten households in the
United States use some of these
pesticides.1
Dangers of Using Strong
Chemicals and Poisons
Insecticides, herbicides, disinfectants,
and rodenticides can cause health
problems if they are not used carefully.
Most health problems are caused
when a product is not used in the right
way. A small amount of exposure to
these products can cause headaches,
dizziness, muscle twitches, nausea,
and weakness. These symptoms go
away after a while. If you use these
products over a long period of time,
or are exposed to high concentrations
of these chemicals, they could cause
serious health problems.
Although the government tries to
remove any pesticide that causes
long-term effects such as cancer,
reproductive or neurological problems
from the market, the science and
process of regulating such risks often
takes time. Therefore, a sensible
precaution is to reduce unnecessary
pesticide use and, when using
these chemicals, keep exposure to a
minimum. Grandparents and older
adults can play an important role in
keeping pesticides and other cleaning
products out of the reach of children.
If you spot symptoms
of poisoning, call
the National Poison
Control Center at
1-800-222-1222.
Footnotes:
1 U.S. EPA, National Household Pesticide Usage Study, 1992,
Office of Pesticides Programs
2 National Poison Control Center Data, 1993-1998
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Safety Precautions at Home
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Read the label and follow the precautions. If you have a hard
time reading the print, ask someone to read the label to you.
Always keep products in the container they came in.
Never use an empty container to store anything else.
Dispose of pesticides according to label instructions.
Always use outdoor products outdoors. Never use them
indoors. Do not use them on windy days.
Before using products outdoors, close the doors and
windows of your home.
When treating a large area leave doors and windows open to
provide plenty of ventilation.
Keep people and pets away from areas where products such
as sprays and foggers have been used. The label will tell you
how long to keep the area clear.
Only use the product in the problem area, and use only the
amount that the label says to use.
After you have used a product, wash the parts of your body
that might have been exposed. Also wash your clothes.
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According to data from the National
Poison Center, less than three percent
of all poisoning cases occurred in
older adults. However, the outcomes
for older people were more severe
than for younger people. Nearly six
percent of all poisonings with serious
results and 28 percent of all poisoning
deaths occur in older people. Scientists
suspect that problems with vision and
memory often lead to mistakes in
pesticide use that would not normally
occur in younger adults.2
Children who drink these products may
become very ill. Hospital emergency
room surveys suggest that children
under age six are more likely to be
harmed by chemicals and taken to the
emergency room while they are visiting
with their grandparents than in their
Publication Number EPA 100-F-05-018
To learn more about
ridding your home of
pests with non-chemical
and safer approaches
call the EPA at (703) 305-
5077 You may also visit
the EPA's Web site at
www.epa.gov/pesticides
own homes. Older adults should store
the products in a safe, child-proof place
when little ones come to visit.
Protecting Your Health
While Getting Rid of Pests
The Environmental Protection Agency
suggests that you use strong chemicals
and poisons only when absolutely
necessary. You may want to consider
safer alternatives too, such as traps,
baits, and gels instead of sprays,
liquids, or powders. A first step to
avoid or to rid your home of pests is to
remove their food, water, and shelter.
Learn About EPA's
Aging Initiative
To help older adults enjoy a longer and
healthier life and protect their loved
ones, the EPA developed the Aging
Initiative. The EPA's Aging Initiative is
working to protect older adults from
things in the environmental that could
harm health. For more information,
visit the EPA's Web site at www.epa.
gov/aging.
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