safe
pesticide
  use
 around
  the
 home

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I nsecticides, herbicides, fungicides.
disinfectants, rodenticides, animal
repellants—chances are that you
have one. some, or all of these
around your home.
They are pesticides—products you use
to help plants grow, to disinfect and
sanitize your house, or to eliminate
unwanted insect and animal pests.
They are effective and useful products
that make our lives better and help
to keep us healthier. But they should
be used carefully, according to
directions, especially around your
home and your family.
This booklet has been developed to
help you to be more aware of the
benefits and the hazards of pesticides
and how to use them in a safe manner.
US. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
Sptsmb.r 1974
(J,S. Environmental Protection

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for your protection

  The hazards and risks of using pesticides
have increased in recent years  with the sharp
rise in their consumption. Congress acted on
this problem in  October 1972 by amending
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Roden-
ticide  Act (FIFRA), substantially  strength-
ened  the Federal  Government's  ability to
protect you, as a  consumer,  from  hazards
caused by the misuse of pesticides.
  The law extends federal control to  actual
application  of  pesticides  by  the user  and
regulates both intrastate and interstate market-
ing of products. Thus, all pesticides legally
sold in the United States will be registered by
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These products must carry an EPA registra-
tion number on the label which indicates that
the product is safe and effective when used
according to label directions. (Older pro-
ducts  may   have  a   U.S.  Department  of
Agriculture  (USDA) number  on the  label.)
Currently nearly 34,000  pesticide  products
are   registered  by  EPA  and  by October
1976, all such products must be registered.
 danger: poison

   Although  under   the   amended  FIFRA
 penalties  may  be levied  against consumers
 who  misuse pesticides, common  sense  de-
 mands  that you regard  all  pesticides  as
 poisons. Pesticides vary in their  toxicity and
 in  unwanted side effects  but the  misuse  of
 any pesticide almost certainly endangers some
 part  of  our  natural  environment—people,
 pets, wildlife,  plants  or streams.  Take  the
 extra time and make the extra effort required
 to  follow the proper safety measures when
 buying,  storing  or  applying pesticides and
 disposing  of  leftover  chemicals  or empty
 containers.

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buy with care
  Before  you buy—study the label.  Is  the
product registered for use in or around  the
home or garden? Does it list the pest you want
to eliminate? What are the safety precautions'?
  Pesticides  are   available  in many  forms.
They come as powders or liquids that require
mixing  with  water.  Pre-mixed  sprays  are
available  in  pressurized  cans or containers
with  pumps.  Dusts,  pellets,  paint-on com-
pounds and many  other formulations are also
available. Get the one that best suits your
purpose.
  If a pesticide spray is for use against house-
hold pests, see whether it is a space spray or
a surface spray. Surface  sprays have coarser
particles  which leave  a coating  that  kills
crawling insects;   space sprays are generally
fine mists directed against flying  insects. The
two types are not  interchangeable.
  Whenever  possible,  choose the  pesticide
that  is effective against only a few other pests
in addition to the  one you want to get rid of.
This allows you to solve your problem without
harming  the  beneficial  life  forms such  as
honeybees or parasites and predators that help
control pests.
  When planning  to  treat plants be sure  you
don't kill the plant along  with the pest. Some
compounds will kill  or injure certain  plants
and  manufacturers have  formulated different
compounds for the  same pest  in  order to
avoid this hazard.  Don't endanger your prized
plants;  read  the precautionary statements on
the label.

safe storage
  Children and pets are curious; put pesti-
cides safely away  as  soon as you bring them
home and immediately after each use. In the
past several  years, approximately 70  percent
of  the pesticide  case reports  received  by
poison control centers  across  the  country
involved  children  under five years of  age.

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Usually these accidental poisonings were the
result of adult carelessness.
A locked cabinet in a well-ventilated utility
area is the best place to store pesticides and
the only reasonably safe place. Never put
these compounds in cabinets with or near
food, medical supplies, or cleaning materials.
Always store pesticides in their original con-
tainers, complete with labels that list ingredi-
ents, directions for use, and antidotes in case
of accidental poisoning. NEVER transfer
pesticides to soft drink bottles or other con-
tainers that children associate with some-
thing to eat or drink.
safe application
Wear clothing that covers your arms and
legs when working with pesticides. When
you are ready to use a pesticide, always re-
read the label or leaflet. Never trust your
memory.
If the material you chose must be mixed
or diluted, do this outdoors or in a well-
ventilated area. Mix only the amount you
need and use recommended portions. Don’t
think that twice the recommended portion
will do a better job. Actually, a higher con-
centration, like over-application, will only
increase the risk of harm to plants or animals.
Keep children and pets away from areas
where you mix or apply pesticides, and
promptly clean up any spills.
Before applying pesticides, remove toys
from the area to be treated. Remove food,
dishes, pots and pans before treating kitchen
cabinets and don’t let pesticides get on these
utensils. Wait until shelves are dry before
refilling them.
Most surface sprays should be applied only
to limited areas. Don’t treat entire floors,
walls or ceilings.
NEVER place rodent or insect baits where
small children or pets can get to them.
3

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Before spraying remove birds and pets and
cover aquariums and fish bowls.
When spraying outdoors, cover fish ponds
and avoid applying pesticides near dug wells.
Always avoid over-application when treating
the lawn, shrubs or garden. Run-off or seepage
from excess pesticides may contaminate water
supplies. In addition over-application may
cause potentially harmful pesticide residues
on vegetables and fruit grown in your garden.
When applying a herbicide, keep it from
coming into contact with flowers and shrubs.
Never spray or dust outdoors on a windy
day when the pesticide may drift back on
you or kill or injure your own or neighbors’
desirable plants.
Bypass birds’ or squirrels’ nests when treat-
ing trees. Avoid applying any pesticides to
blooming plants, especially if you see honey-
bees and other pollinating insects around
them.
Never smoke while applying pesticides.
They can be carried from hand to mouth by
cigarettes. In addition, some are flammable.
If you spill a pesticide on your skin, wash
it off with soap and water right away. If you
spill it on your clothing, remove the clothing,
and wash the skin. Then launder the clothes
before wearing them again.
finishing the job
When you have finished applying pesticides,
clean any equipment that you used and safely
dispose of any containers. Empty pesticide
containers can be as hazardous as full ones
because of residues left in them.
Wrap single, empty pesticide containers in
several layers of newspaper and tie securely.
Then, put them in a covered trash can if you
have regular collection service. (If you do not,
empty pesticide containers should be crushed
and then buried at least 18 inches deep in a
place on your land where there is no danger
4

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of contaminating water. DO NOT, HOW-
EVER, PUNCThRE PRESSURIZED CON-
TAINERS!)
Normally, you should not burn pest:icide
boxes or sacks either outdoors or in apart-
ment incinerators. Many compounds do not
decompose under these conditions, and the
updraft from the fire will carry the chemicals
long distances.
Exceptions may be made for small quanti-
ties of certain empty pesticide containers.
Those formerly containing organic or metallo-.
organic pesticides other than organic mercury,
lead, cadmium or arsenic compounds may be
burned. However, incineration should never
take place in densely populated areas. It is
best to dispose of these containers in a
covered trash can, too.
Never pour leftover pesticides down the
sink or into toilet bowls. (Only solutions
labeled for use in cleaning pipes and toilet
bowls should be used in this manner.)
Chemicals can interfere with the operation of
septic tanks. In addition, waterways may be
polluted because many municipal waste dis-
posal systems do not remove all pesticide
residues from the effluent water. Avoid this
problem by planning ahead when you begin
5

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the job and mixing only the amount of pesti-
cide that you will use.
After spraying and cleaning all equipment,
wash your hands and face with soap and
water as a matter of routine, regardless of
whether you spilled any pesticide on yourself.
when emergency strikes
If you get a pesticide in your eyes, flush
them with water for 15 minutes and call a
doctor.
If someone accidentally swallows a pesti-
cide, quickly check the container. It may
recommend an antidote or other first aid.
Call a doctor in any case. Read him the label,
including the active ingredient of the pesti-
cide. Take the labeled container along if you
go to the doctor or a hospital.
Poison Control Centers are available to all
doctors. They can call these Centers for addi-
tional advice and information on antidotes
for specific pesticides.
for more information
EPA as a regulatory agency cannot recom-
mend specific chemicals or brands. However,
additional information on pesticide use and
safety is available from the EPA or its re-
gional offices, Cooperative Extension Service
in States and counties, other agricultural au-
thorities, and county health departments.
Names and numbers are listed in your local
telephone directory.
an ounce of prevention
The first step in any home pest control
program is prevention. Insects and rodents
come onto your property or into your home
in search of food or shelter. By taking sensi-
ble precautionary measures you can make
your living spaces less attractive to unwanted
visitors.
Particular attention should be paid to food
storage. Crumbs and other food scraps should
6

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be completely cleaned up. Air out woolens,
clothing drawers and closets where moths lay
eggs. Air out places such as bath and laundry
rooms which tend to collect moisture. This
will discourage the growth of mildew and
other fungi.
Keep your property free of Jitter that could
provide a breeding ground for flies or rats.
Be especially careful to keep wood away from
buildings because it can lead termites right
to your home. Eliminate breeding grounds for
mosquitos by getting rid of places where
water can collect and stagnate.
Remember that birds, given food and
shelter, tend to stay around the home and
garden and can be a considerable asset in
insect control. The ladybug and the praying
mantis are insect predators that destroy aphids
and other harmful pests. Bees are needed for
pollination of fruits and flowers. Misused,
pesticides can destroy these helpful allies.
Therefore, the guiding rule of any pest control
project should be: Do no harm.
Before you resort to pesticides, be certain
that chemical control is the best solution. If
you have any doubts about the nature of your
pest problem or how to cure it, check with
your County Extension Agent. Use natural
controls first, but if chemical control is
necessary:
• get the proper pesticide for the specific
problem;
• read the label;
• store it securely;
• apply it properly;
• clean up thoroughly; and
• dispose of containers safely.
Following these few basic rules will help
insure your safety and that of your family.
7

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potential hazards
Improper or careless pesticide use may
result in harmful side-effects.
For example:
Persistence—some materials may remain in
the environment for long periods of time and
pollute the air, water and soil. This is espe-
cially true if a pesticide is applied in exces-
sive amounts or at higher concentrations than
recommended, or if improperly disposed of.
Broad.spectrum effCcts—some pesticides affect
many different life forms, destroying bene-
ficial as well as harmful insects.
Harm to plants or anlmals----improperly used,
some pesticides can harm plants, birds, fish,
squirrels or other wildlife.
Harm to humans—certain pesticides can in-
jure the applicator if consumed, absorbed
through the skin, or inhaled. Children or pets
may also be affected unless pesticides are
used and stored properly.
l.jJ.L U

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benefits
  Used properly, pesticides are invaluable in
the protection  of  human and animal health
and in the production of food and fiber.
  For example:
Homeowners have at their disposal  easy-to-
use pesticides  that eliminate pests  in  and
around  the house,  protect  clothing against
moths, and disinfect living quarters.

Home gardeners can protect their ornamentals
or vegetables with  pesticides, including com-
pounds  that break down within a relatively
short  time. This reduces residue problems.

Fanners use pesticides to  produce the crops
that provide Americans with abundant, whole-
some  food supplies and make this country a
major source of food and fiber for the world.

Human lives by the  tens of  thousands have
been  saved from malaria,  typhus,  and other
deadly diseases through the  planned use of
pesticides.
  The reader is free to quote or reproduce any part
  of this  publication without further permission.

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