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Reducing Pesticide
Risk
By their nature as substances that in many cases are designed to kill
pests, pesticides can pose risks to humans and to the environment. It
is possible to reduce those risks in several ways. For example:
- EPA gives priority in its registration program for conventional chemical
pesticides to pesticides that meet reduced
risk criteria: low-impact on human health, low toxicity to non-target
organisms (birds, fish, and plants), low potential for groundwater contamination,
lower use rates, low pest resistance potential, and compatibility with
Integrated Pest Management.
- Some pesticides are by their nature less risky, for example, many
biological pesticides that are derived from such natural materials as
animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals pose a lower risk. For
example, canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and
are considered biopesticides.
However, other plant-derived pesticides such as nicotine can be quite
toxic.
- EPA is reviewing
older pesticides to ensure that they meet current safety standards.
The results of these reviews often include actions to reduce risks from
pesticides, such as establishing or enlarging buffers to protect surface
water bodies, changing the amount or frequency of use of a pesticide
to reduce exposure, limiting use of the pesticide during periods when
a non-pest species might be affected, eliminating or modifying uses
that pose unacceptable risks to people, particularly children.
- In many situations, there may be non-chemical methods to control pests.
EPA recommends considering and using these methods as part of an overall
pest management strategy, often called Integrated
Pest Management.
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