You know pesticides are designed to eradicate the pesky creatures that invade your home. And you certainly want to get rid of those creepy crawlies, and prevent them from ever coming back. But you also know that pesticides aren’t exactly “natural”, and you have some fears about their safety. This is especially true if you have children or pets in the home, or if you’re concerned about certain health risks in yourself. These concerns are completely understandable.
Consumer concern has motivated state agencies to investigate and label all home pesticide products, so that you can make educated choices about the chemicals you bring into your home. In the state of California, all pesticides (and chemical products in general) are classified according to their level of risk to human health:
- Caution
- Warning
- Danger
The “caution” classification identifies chemical products that carry the lowest risk. Generall speaking, a Caution label means exposure to the product might cause problems such as skin or eye irritation upon contact, or minor breathing disruptions if inhaled. Warning and Danger labels are more serious, and indicate that the product can cause (or is suspected to cause) more serious illness or injury when used incorrectly.
Most of the pesticide produces we use fall into the Caution category. Therefore, as long as they are used appropriately, we don’t have any reason to feel concerned for your family’s safety when applying these pesticides in the home environment.
Of course, safe for humans does not always translate to safe for other creatures. Pesticides should be kept out of the water supply, such as storm drains and streams, due to the danger they could pose to local ecology. Therefore, even chemicals that are safe for use around humans must be used carefully in order to avoid environmental damage.
If you experience a pest control problem in your home, we recommend consulting with experts for faster and more permanent solutions. But if you do decide to use pesticides yourself, make sure to follow all directions and wear the appropriate protective gear. If you need help deciding how to proceed, call us for an estimate on professional pest control services.