Risk/Benefit Information for Pesticide Applications

How Pesticides Work: Products intended for use on your property are applied as a liquid, dust, aerosol, granule, or bait and are generally active for a few minutes to a few months. Some compounds control pests on contact by damaging the physical structure of the pest. Other compounds become active only after they are absorbed or ingested, by interfering with physical development or the reproduction ability of the pest. The pesticide product label contains specific information on how to control targeted pests. All pesticides must be applied in accordance with label directions.

Pesticides may be effective against a large class of organisms or they may be specific to a particular organism. This means that many times, applicators can choose an effective pesticide or pest control strategy that will minimize potential impacts to humans, pets and other non-target organisms.

Why Pesticides are Used: Pesticides are a tool people use to protect crops, homes, animals, structures, or their landscape plants from pest damage. Examples are the protection of buildings from termites, lawns from weed and insect damage, and indoor environments from invasions by insects and rodents. They are also used to control mosquito populations, control disease vectors for public health concerns, protect food crops, and for weed control in lakes and ponds.

General Toxicity Information: Toxicity is a general term used to indicate the adverse effects produced by a pesticide. Understanding the potential health risks from pesticides requires knowledge of the exposure and the toxicity of the compound.

There are two broad classifications of pesticides – general use and restricted use. These are United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designations used to determine who may purchase and use the many kinds of pesticides available. General use pesticides are usually considered to have a lower toxicity or risk than restricted use pesticides and have fewer restrictions regarding who may purchase or use the products. For example, all the pesticide products that homeowners may purchase are general use pesticides. The majority of the products that are routinely used on your property and yard are also general use pesticides.

Restricted use pesticides can only be purchased and used by applicators that are certified by the State of Michigan, many of whom receive additional professional training. Only in specific instances would these kinds of products be used on your property. Please refer to the section of your customer paperwork or invoice that shows which products were used at the time of application. (If you have any questions as to the type or toxicity of the products used on your property, please contact the manufacturer indicated on the pesticide label, or contact the applicator).

• DO NOT enter the treatment area until the time period provided by/posted by the applicator has elapsed.
• The product applied may have a specific re-entry or pre-harvest interval during which you may NOT enter the area or harvest the crop.
• For indoor applications – put away all food items, children’s toys, and clothing. Cover fish tanks, remove pets, and perform any additional tasks as outlined for the specific application by your applicator.
• For outdoor applications – put away children’s toys and any clothing that may be outside drying, remove pets, discard water for pets and water in birdbaths, close windows, move or place your vehicles in the garage, and make certain that applicators understand what areas, such as children’s play areas and home gardens, should NOT be treated.
• Additional precautionary measures may need to be taken to limit exposure for sensitive individuals such as: infants, small children, pregnant women, and senior citizens; persons on prescription medications; and persons with medical conditions such as respiratory conditions or immune system concerns.