The words, “chemical”, “pesticide” and “toxic” cause a reaction in some people, for understandable reasons. We all want to be safe and keep our kids safe, so you are right to proceed with caution around any new or unknown substance.
Just to clear up a few misconceptions about what we do in the pest control industry, we should review how chemical products are classified and labeled in the state of California. There are three classifications, known as
- Caution
- Warning
- Danger
As you might imagine, Caution implies the least amount of danger to humans, whereas Warning and Danger signal increased risk.
Almost all of our commonly used products fall into the Caution category. This means the pesticide could cause slight irritation, if you’re exposed via inhalation or ingestion, or you get some of the chemical on your skin or in your eyes.
These products were designed to affect invertebrates, whereas we are vertebrates. They generally do not cause major problems for humans. But because they are dangerous to aquatic life, the state of California does place strict restrictions on how we can use them. These products must be kept out of streams, storm drains, and so on.
The state also enforces strict rules on how we apply all of our pesticide products in and around the house. These guidelines are in place to keep you and your family safe, and we follow all of them to the letter. When product labels are followed correctly, these products are very safe to use in the home.
Hiring an expert pest control technician is the best way to ensure pesticides are applied safely, but if you decide to use these products yourself, just remember to read the label and follow directions precisely.