Do you think of using pesticides to combat pests and want it to be less risky? What are some low-risk pesticides in pest control that you can consider using?
Some highly hazardous pesticides were detrimental to their surroundings when used. So, it’s best to try something that has lesser impact and toxicity, which perfectly fits with low-risk pesticides.
To know more about the low-risk pesticides, continue reading.
Defining Pesticides
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a pesticide is a product utilized to kill, deter, or manage those that are considered pests. It contains both active and inert ingredients.
Active ingredients are chemicals that can eliminate or deter pests. In comparison, inert ingredients are other substances added to play critical roles on the product, such as extending shelf life, functioning as a solvent, improving safety, etc.
Here are the different kinds of pesticides that have specific targets:
- Algaecides: used to eliminate algae.
- Antimicrobials: used to act against bacteria and viruses.
- Disinfectants: same as antimicrobials, it works against bacteria and viruses.
- Fungicides: used to prevent fungal concerns.
- Herbicides: used to hinder the growth of weeds.
- Insecticides: used to deter insects.
- Rodenticides: used to eradicate rodents.
You can use pesticides in various ways; it is advantageous against pests. Most of these also act quicker than any other pest control method.
It has a significant role in keeping the health of the public. One can use it to eliminate pests that cause risks to health and damages to properties and belongings.
Pests may carry infectious diseases with them, threatening one’s health upon exposure. It is detrimental to sensitive people, those with allergies or asthma, children, the elderly, and pets.
When used in agriculture, it can protect crops from harmful pests, increase the yield, and have a better quality of produce. However, one must use this with proper precautions and adequate knowledge.
What are the low-risk pesticides in pest control?
Low-risk pesticides are products and practices that have a minimal threat to people and their surroundings. It can be through careful selection of combined ingredients to form a product or through following instructions and advice.
Before you proceed with choosing a pesticide, you might as well ask yourself the following to know if you are picking the right product:
- Where do you plan to use the pesticide?
- What is the pesticide being used?
- When are you going to use it?
- What methods would you utilize to use the pesticide?
- Would it possibly affect its surroundings? What would the effect be?
A low-risk pesticide should not have misleading or incorrect information; it should be correctly labeled and include the right ingredients. It is to ensure the safety of the users while handling the product.
Now, it’s time to see some active ingredients of pesticides that are considered low-risk, so look out for these when picking pesticides:
- Aclonifen
- Azaconazole
- Bentazon
- Bifenazate
- Castor oil
- Cedar oil
- Citronella
- Cinnamon oil
- Citric acid
- Clove oil
- Corn oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Garlic
- Iron phosphate
- Lemongrass oil
- Malic acid
- Mint oil
- Peppermint oil
- Potassium sorbate
- Rosemary oil
- Salt
- Soybean oil
- Thyme oil
- White pepper
- Zinc metal strips
It is best to consider lowering your exposure to toxicity to ensure lower risks. Do this by reading and following the instructions on the product, knowing how to use and store pesticides properly, and wearing required protective clothing.
You may visit this article concerning minimizing exposure to learn more about the application of pesticides to reduce your exposure to it. There you’ll understand what to do before, during, and after applying pesticides (liquid, granules, or dust).
Highly Hazardous Pesticides
Compared to low-risk pesticides, highly hazardous pesticides can cause a high level of hazard to health and the environment.
It can be toxic to humans through consumption, inhalation, and direct skin touch and may produce a mild to severe reaction. It can also contribute to acquiring severe health diseases like cancer, reproductive defects, hormonal disruption, etc.
Not only does it impact an individuals’ health, but it can also cause environmental damages concerning soil, water, beneficial insects, aquatic creatures, and so on. This can cause irreversible harm after usage; that is why some of these are banned already.
Thankfully, there are alternatives available for these highly hazardous pesticides. You may want to take note of nematicides and rodenticides because many of those two are highly toxic.
Here are some of those that have severe effects:
- Aluminum phosphide
- Atrazine
- Clothianidin
- Fipronil
- Imidacloprid
- Magnesium phosphide
- Paraquat dichloride
- Phosphine
- Thiamethoxam
The list seen above was based on the Oregon IPM Center by the College of Agricultural Sciences of Oregon State University. To learn more regarding this, you can search and visit their website.
For additional information, visit these two articles, is pest control safe for humans and is pest control safe for pets.
Conclusion
No matter how a product is claimed to be natural or organic, one should still use it with caution. It’s best to always follow the label on the product to know how to use it and minimize risks on your own properly.
What are some low-risk pesticides in pest control? It is an excellent query to ask yourself if you are thinking of using pesticides and minimizing the risk they can bring while maximizing their potential.
Hopefully, this article was able to aid you in understanding things relating to low-risk pesticides.