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What is a Pesticide?
- What is a pesticide?
- What is a pest?
- Do household products contain pesticides?
- What is the balance between the risks and benefits
of pesticides?
- Are some pesticides safer than others?
- What about pest control devices?
- What substances are not regulated as pesticides?
What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for:
- preventing,
- destroying,
- repelling, or
- mitigating any pest.
Though often misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term pesticide
also applies to herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances used
to control pests.
Under United States law, a pesticide is also any substance or mixture
of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.
What is a pest?
Pests are living organisms that occur where they are not wanted or that
cause damage to crops or humans or other animals. Examples include:
- insects,
- mice and other animals,
- unwanted plants (weeds),
- fungi,
- microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, and
- prions.
(578 kb, 8 pgs, PDF)
Do household products contain pesticides?
Many household products are pesticides. All of these common products
are considered pesticides:
- Cockroach sprays and baits
- Insect repellents for personal use.
- Rat and other rodent poisons.
- Flea and tick sprays, powders, and pet collars.
- Kitchen, laundry, and bath disinfectants and sanitizers.
- Products that kill mold and mildew.
- Some lawn and garden products, such as weed killers.
- Some swimming pool chemicals.
What is the balance between the risks and benefits
of pesticides?
By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk of harm
- Pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment because
they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms.
At the same time, pesticides are useful to society - Pesticides
can kill potential disease-causing organisms and control insects, weeds,
and other pests.
Are some pesticides safer than others?
Biologically-based pesticides, such as pheromones and microbial pesticides,
are becoming increasingly popular and often are safer than traditional
chemical pesticides. In addition, EPA is registering reduced-risk conventional
pesticides in increasing numbers.
What about pest control devices?
A pest control "device" is any instrument or contrivance (other than
a firearm) intended for trapping, destroying, repelling, or mitigating
any pest. A black light trap is an example of a device.
Unlike pesticides, EPA does not require devices to be registered with
the Agency. Devices are subject to certain labeling, packaging, record
keeping, and import/export requirements, however. In addition, the establishment
where a device is produced must be registered with EPA who will assign
an Establishment
Number.
What substances are not regulated as pesticides?
The U.S. definition of pesticides is quite broad, but it does have some
exclusions:
- Drugs used to control diseases of humans or animals (such as livestock
and pets) are not considered pesticides; such drugs are regulated by
the Food and Drug Administration.
- Fertilizers, nutrients, and other substances used to promote plant
survival and health are not considered plant growth regulators and thus
are not pesticides.
- Biological control agents, except for certain microorganisms, are
exempted from regulation by EPA. (Biological control agents include
beneficial predators such as birds or ladybugs that eat insect pests.)
- Products which contain certain low-risk ingredients, such as garlic
and mint oil, have been exempted from Federal registration requirements,
although State regulatory requirements may still apply. For a list of
ingredients which may be exempt, and a discussion of allowable label
claims for such products, see EPA's Pesticide Registration Notice 2000-6,
"Minimum Risk Pesticides
Exempted under FIFRA Section 25(b)" (33 KB, PDF)
Quick Resources
About EPA's Pesticides Program
Overview of EPA's program
evaluating
potential new pesticides and uses, providing
for special local needs and emergency situations, reviewing
safety of older pesticides, registering
pesticide producing establishments, enforcing
pesticide requirements
Types of Pesticides
Pesticides are often grouped according to the
type of pest they control or by chemical or source.
type of pest, chemically-related
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions from the public.
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applicators, farm
and agricultural workers
Fact Sheets
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Information Sources
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