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Our experts answer the most common questions people have about pesticides and their use. If you have more to add to the list, please contact us.

What is a pesticide?

"Pesticide" can refer to any substance that is made to control or prevent any pest, including weeds, insects, rodents, fungus, and more. (Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodentcides are all pesticides.)

These include common household products used to control ants, mice, and roaches, and products frequently used in the garden or lawn to control dandelions, ragweed, poison ivy, and other weeds, as well as stinging pests like wasps and mosquitoes.

Why do we use pesticides?

Insects, rodents and weeds can threaten the health and well-being of our families and communities. Pesticides help protect us from diseases carried by insects (like West Nile virus and Lyme disease), illnesses caused by contact with rodent droppings, urine, or dander, or caused by poison ivy or oak and ragweed. For example:

• Increasingly studies show allergens from rodents like mice and cockroaches are a significant cause of asthma in children, making control of these pests in schools and homes even more important.
• Uncontrolled growth of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac poses risk to children and adults alike as more than one-half of the U.S. population is allergic to these noxious weeds.
• A recent ban of cosmetic use of pesticides in Canada has led to destruction of roads, sidewalks and playgrounds as uncontrolled weeds are causing cracking and breaking of the concrete. Local media reports also indicate a heightened allergy season due to uncontrolled ragweed growth.

Controlling weeds and insects keeps our homes pest-free and our lawns, parks, and other outdoor spaces usable. Think about the last time you saw a vacant lot or abandon home. Without proper weed control, playgrounds, soccer and softball fields, and parks would be just as overgrown making it impossible to enjoy our community green space. Without effectively controlling weeds the usability and enjoyment of, these community recreation areas, would be greatly reduced. Weeds also create cracks in sidewalks and roads leading to frequent repairs.

How do I make sure I'm using pesticides safely?

Remember this: the label is the law. Reading and following instructions will make sure the pesticide is used safely and will be effective in controlling your pest.

When dealing with a bug, rodent, weed, or other pest problem on your property, it's important to choose right and use right by following these steps:

1. Identify the problem: What is the bug, rodent, or weed infiltrating your surroundings? Resources such as the National Pest Management Associations' pest gallery can be helpful in this process.

2. Select the right product: Choose a product that is designed to control the specific pest you are targeting. Questions? Ask a local professional, an extension agent or submit a question to us.

3. Prepare the area: Keep children and pets at a distance during applications and until the product dries, or as long as the product label suggests. Have absorbent materials nearby in case the product is spilled.

4. Read and follow the label instructions: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the industry recently worked together to make product labels easier to understand and follow. Be sure to follow directions about proper protective clothing, mixing solution, rinsing containers and appropriate dosage levels. This is important when using natural, organic or synthetic pesticides as the safety and effectiveness of both depend on proper use. Always wash your hands after applying a pesticide.

5. Do not overuse or underuse: Overuse can be hazardous, and underuse can help pests build up an immunity to the pesticide making treatment ineffective.

Of course, if you'd rather leave it to a professional, you can also hire a professional applicator to identify and treat your bug or weed problem.

What is the effect of pesticide use on me and my family?

Pesticides provide protection for you and your family against disease and infection caused by insects, rodents and some weeds, while also keeping your outdoor spaces accessible and enjoyable. It's important to remember that pesticides are rigorously tested for their potential human health and environmental impact before they can be registered and sold for use. The pesticides available for use in your home have been determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to have a reasonable certainty of no harm to human health. More details about the EPA's testing process are available on the agency web site.

What about my pets? Do I need to take precaution when using pesticides?

Just as pesticides help protect us from stinging and biting insects, pesticide products help create an enjoyable backyard experience for our dogs and cats.

As always, be sure to read and follow the label when applying pesticide products, which includes directions for proper storage and use. To protect your dog or cat from backyard hazards, try the following:

• Apply pesticides when pets are not in the yard. Wait until sprays have dried or granular dust has settled before letting your dog or cat into the area that has been treated.
• Remove, or turn over and empty feeding bowls, water dishes and bird baths before pesticide applications.
• After treating lawns and outside areas, restrict pets from the areas until pesticides have dried and the danger of exposure has passed. Follow the restricted-entry interval (REI) as stated on the label.
• Clean up after an application and store products out of pets' reach. The greatest risk of adverse effects to a pet from lawn care products comes from pets lapping from a puddle of an improperly diluted, or undiluted product, especially from a concentrated product in the original container.
• Store all lawncare and gardening products properly - which includes keeping them out of pets' reach.
• Know who to call. If you are concerned your pet may have ingested pesticides, contact your local veterinarian or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (ASPCA) 24-hour emergency poison hotline directly at 1-888-426-4435.
• Learn more about proper use and your pets. Visit the National Pesticide Information Center, and the EPA web site.

Who regulates pesticides and their use? How much testing is done before they are available to the public?

Pesticides are rigorously tested for their potential human health and environmental impact before they can be registered and sold for use. The pesticides available for you to use in your home have been determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to have a reasonable certainty of no harm to human health. Product registration by the EPA can take up to 10 years and involves up to 120 different tests and studies that can take years to complete. More details about the EPA's testing process are available on the agency web site.

I hear people talk about using IPM in our schools. What is IPM and how does it work?

IPM stands for integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is a strategic system for controlling pests often used by schools, communities and farms, which involves three steps:

1. Monitoring to identify when pests are present

2. Analysis of the risks involved with the pest's presence

3. Initiating preventative or control steps to keep the pest at an acceptable tolerance level

Basically, IPM creates a process for schools and others to follow to make sure they are making good decisions about pest control and pesticide use.

Do pesticides affect the environment?

The EPA review process rigorously tests all pesticides for potential environmental impact before the product can be registered. Product registration by the EPA can take up to 10 years and involves up to 120 different tests and studies over the course of weeks, months, or even years. And once a product is registered, the EPA continues to study and test the pesticide to ensure its environmental safety. More details about the EPA's testing process are available on the agency web site.

What else should I be doing to control pests?

The National Pest Management Association provides a few simple steps can help prevent pest problems, including:

• Sealing cracks and holes on the outside of your home
• Keeping branches well-trimmed
• Keeping basements and attics well-ventilated and dry
• Storing garbage in a sealed container and disposing of it regularly
• Mulching flower beds to discourage weed growth

Similar to the effectiveness of preventative health measures, these steps aren't fool-proof for preventing pest problems. When insects, rodents and weeds reach a certain level, it's necessary to find a way to control them.

While organic and natural products are created using compounds from plants or other organisms, it's still important to remember that they must be used according to label directions to make sure they are used safely.