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Sources of Indoor Air Pollution - Pesticides
According to a recent survey, 75 percent of U.S.
households used at least one pesticide product indoors during the past year.
Products used most often are insecticides and disinfectants. Another study
suggests that 80 percent of most people's exposure to pesticides occurs indoors
and that measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the
air inside homes. The amount of pesticides found in homes appears to be greater
than can be explained by recent pesticide use in those households; other
possible sources include contaminated soil or dust that floats or is tracked in
from outside, stored pesticide containers, and household surfaces that collect
and then release the pesticides. Pesticides used in and around the home include
products to control insects (insecticides), termites (termiticides), rodents (rodenticides),
fungi (fungicides), and microbes (disinfectants). They are sold as sprays,
liquids, sticks, powders, crystals, balls, and foggers.
In 1990, the American Association of Poison
Control Centers reported that some 79,000 children were involved in common
household pesticide poisonings or exposures. In households with children under
five years old, almost one-half stored at least one pesticide product within
reach of children.
EPA registers pesticides for use and requires
manufacturers to put information on the label about when and how to use the
pesticide. It is important to remember that the "-cide" in pesticides
means "to kill". These products can be dangerous if not used properly.
In addition to the active ingredient, pesticides
are also made up of ingredients that are used to carry the active agent. These
carrier agents are called "inerts" in pesticides because they are not
toxic to the targeted pest; nevertheless, some inerts are capable of causing
health problems.
Products used to kill household
pests (insecticides, termiticides, and disinfectants). Also, products used on
lawns and gardens that drift or are tracked inside the house.
Irritation to eye, nose,
and throat; damage to central nervous system and kidney; increased risk of
cancer.
Both the active and inert ingredients in
pesticides can be organic compounds; therefore, both could add to the levels of
airborne organics inside homes. Both types of ingredients can cause the type of
effects discussed in Household Chemicals/Products.
However, as with other household products, there is insufficient understanding
at present about what pesticide concentrations are necessary to produce these
effects.
Exposure to high levels of cyclodiene pesticides,
commonly associated with misapplication, has produced various symptoms,
including headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, weakness, tingling sensations,
and nausea. In addition, EPA is concerned that cyclodienes might cause long-term
damage to the liver and the central nervous system, as well as an increased risk
of cancer.
There is no further sale or commercial use
permitted for the following cyclodiene or related pesticides: chlordane, aldrin,
dieldrin, and heptachlor. The only exception is the use of heptachlor by utility
companies to control fire ants in underground cable boxes.
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Preliminary research
shows widespread presence of pesticide residues in homes.
- Use strictly according to manufacturer's
directions.
- Mix or dilute outdoors.
- Apply only in recommended quantities.
- Increase ventilation when using indoors. Take
plants or pets outdoors when applying pesticides/flea and tick treatments.
- Use non-chemical methods of pest control where
possible.
- If you use a pest control company, select it
carefully.
- Do not store unneeded pesticides inside home;
dispose of unwanted containers safely.
- Store clothes with moth repellents in
separately ventilated areas, if possible.
- Keep indoor spaces clean, dry, and well
ventilated to avoid pest and odor problems.
Read the label and follow the directions. It is
illegal to use any pesticide in any manner inconsistent with the directions on
its label.
Unless you have had special training and are
certified, never use a pesticide that is restricted to use by state-certified
pest control operators. Such pesticides are simply too dangerous for application
by a non-certified person. Use only the pesticides approved for use by the
general public and then only in recommended amounts; increasing the amount does
not offer more protection against pests and can be harmful to you and your
plants and pets.
Ventilate the area well after pesticide
use.
Mix or dilute pesticides outdoors or in a
well-ventilated area and only in the amounts that will be immediately
needed. If possible, take plants and pets outside when applying
pesticides/flea and tick treatments.
Use non-chemical methods of pest control
when possible.
Since pesticides can be found far from the
site of their original application, it is prudent to reduce the use of
chemical pesticides outdoors as well as indoors. Depending on the site and
pest to be controlled, one or more of the following steps can be effective:
use of biological pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, for the
control of gypsy moths; selection of disease-resistant plants; and frequent
washing of indoor plants and pets. Termite damage can be reduced or
prevented by making certain that wooden building materials do not come into
direct contact with the soil and by storing firewood away from the home. By
appropriately fertilizing, watering, and aerating lawns, the need for
chemical pesticide treatments of lawns can be dramatically reduced.
If you decide to use a pest control company,
choose one carefully.
Ask for an inspection of your home and get a
written control program for evaluation before you sign a contract. The control
program should list specific names of pests to be controlled and chemicals to be
used; it should also reflect any of your safety concerns. Insist on a proven
record of competence and customer satisfaction.
Dispose of unwanted pesticides safely.
If you have unused or partially used
pesticide containers you want to get rid of, dispose of them according to
the directions on the label or on special household hazardous waste
collection days. If there are no such collection days in your community,
work with others to organize them.
Keep exposure to moth repellents to a
minimum.
One pesticide often found in the home is
paradichlorobenzene, a commonly used active ingredient in moth repellents.
This chemical is known to cause cancer in animals, but substantial
scientific uncertainty exists over the effects, if any, of long-term human
exposure to paradichlorobenzene. EPA requires that products containing
paradichlorobenzene bear warnings such as "avoid breathing vapors"
to warn users of potential short-term toxic effects. Where possible,
paradichlorobenzene, and items to be protected against moths, should be
placed in trunks or other containers that can be stored in areas that are
separately ventilated from the home, such as attics and detached garages.
Paradichlorobenzene is also the key active ingredient in many air fresheners
(in fact, some labels for moth repellents recommend that these same products
be used as air fresheners or deodorants). Proper ventilation and basic
household cleanliness will go a long way toward preventing unpleasant odors.
From the IAQ Tools for Schools - IAQ Coordinator's Guide -
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/guidee.html
Description |
Sources |
Standards
or Guidelines |
Pesticides are classed as semi-volatile
organic compounds and include a variety of
chemicals in various forms. Pesticides are chemicals
that are used to kill or control pests which
include bacteria, fungi, and other organisms, in
addition to insects and rodents. Pesticides are
inherently toxic. |
Pesticides may be applied indoors or can
be tracked in from the outdoors. |
No air concentration standards for
pesticides have been set, however, EPA recommends Integrated Pest Management, which
minimizes the use of chemical pesticides.
Pesticide products must be used according to
application and ventilation instructions provided by
the manufacturer. |
Health
Effects |
Control
Measures |
Symptoms may include headache,
dizziness, muscular weakness, and nausea. Chronic exposure to some
pesticides can result in damage to the liver, kidneys, endocrine
and nervous systems. |
Use Integrated Pest Management. If
chemicals must be used, use only the recommended amounts, mix or dilute
pesticides outdoors or in an isolated well ventilated area, apply
to unoccupied areas, and dispose of unwanted pesticides safely to minimize exposure. |
See also:
www.epa.gov/pesticides |
Office of Pesticides Publications List
National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
EPA sponsors the NPIC (800) 858-PEST/800-858-7378 to answer
your questions about pesticides and to provide selected EPA publications on
pesticides. See their web site at -
http://npic.orst.edu/
or, read their brochure -
http://npic.orst.edu/brochure.pdf
Pesticides: Uses, Effects and
Alternatives to Pesticides in Schools, U.S. General Accounting Office,
Report to the Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Governmental Affairs,
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, U.S. Senate, November
29, 1999, GAO/RCED-00-17.
Orders by mail: U.S. General Accounting
Office; P.O. Box 37050; Washington, DC 20013, or Visit: Room 110, 700
4th St., N.W.; U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, DC, or call (202)
512-6000 or by fax (202) 512-6061, or TDD (202) 512-2537. You can also
visit their web site at: www.gao.gov
or send e-mail to info@www.gao.gov.
EPA's Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in
Schools. EPA. Website designed to encourage school
officials to adopt IPM practices for reducing children's exposure to
pesticides; includes information on how to start a program, success
stories, and funding.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/
Integrated Pest Management in Schools.
EPA, University of Florida, National Integrated Pest Management
Network. Website for parents, teachers, administrators, and pest
managers providing technical information, management practices,
presentations, teaching curricula, a message board, and an IPM
listserve.
http://schoolipm.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html
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