What if you could get by without using pesticides at home, or at your business or nonprofit? You are probably so used to certain best practices — like keeping food containers sealed — that you don’t even think about them.
Other methods, like maintaining a lawn that competes well with weeds, are more obscure. Another, to reduce fungus infection on susceptible plants, is to maintain good air circulation and to remove leaf litter.
Sometimes these cultural practices, as they’re called, go a long way toward preventing problems. There are other occasions when damage might be severe enough to warrant using a pesticide, either natural or synthetic.
According to data gathered from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, an average of 23 U.S. deaths occur each year with pesticides as the cause. U.S. figures reported by the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality indicate that the matter of pesticide poisoning is serious:
Emergency departments reported an annual average of 7,385 visits during 2006 to 2008.
1,419 annual hospitalizations during 2005 to 2009 were posted.
Excluding cost from lost work time, hospital physician fees and pesticide-induced cancers, the annual national cost associated with pesticide exposures was estimated as nearly $200 million, based on data from emergency department visits, hospitalizations and for deaths.
While the greatest exposure to risk is borne by workers who mix and load concentrated pesticides regularly, many standard safety measures apply equally on the home front. Consider these:
Identify your pest. Folks sometimes call our office having already sprayed an insecticide on a fungus outbreak. Not only did they fail to treat their problem, they unnecessarily killed pollinators and beneficial insects, and wasted their time and money. We can help with the ID.
Start with least-toxic measures for control of the pest. A range of controls is available for seasonal visitors such as bagworms, tent caterpillars and other pests. Some products will effectively control only that pest, and others will kill off-target insects including valuable pollinators. Check our office and publications for guidance.
Choose a material that’s labeled for your pest, and purchase only what you need. Long-term storage of unused pesticides becomes a risk factor at home.
Read and follow all label instructions. Some materials require a narrow temperature window, or only work on a certain lifecycle stage.
Use safety equipment as noted on the label. This may include chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses, apron, rain suit or rubber boots. Even natural and organic materials used as pesticides can cause harm with exposure.
Store materials safely. Always store pesticides in their original containers and with their label, noting guidance on recommended temperatures. To dispose of pesticides, consider services available through our Solid Waste Management District’s Recycle Center or the State Chemist’s Clean Sweep program.
So what about those cultural practices that help a lawn to compete with weeds? Go online at extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-32-w.pdf, and note these points:
Mow high
Mow often
Apply fertilizer and weed control in the fall
Limit nitrogen
Water only in the early morning
The publication will tell you why these help.
