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Cooperative Extension Service
Department of Plant SciencesCollege of Agriculture
MP-93.9
 August, 1998
Pesticide Education Program Fact Sheet
Prepared by M.A. Ferrell, UW Cooperative Extension Pesticide Coordinator
What is a Pesticide?
 A pesticide is any substance or mixture of sub-stances intended for preventing, destroying, re-pelling, or mitigating any pest. Pests can be in-sects, mice and other animals, unwanted plants(weeds), fungi, or microorganisms like bacteriaand viruses. Though often referred to only asinsecticides, the term pesticide also applies toherbicides, fungicides, and various other sub-stances used to control pests. Under UnitedStates law, a pesticide is also any substance ormixture of substances intended for use as aplant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.Many household products are pesticides. Didyou know that all of these common productsare considered pesticides?•Cockroach sprays and baits•Insect repellents for personal use•Rat and other rodent poisons•Flea and tick sprays, powders, and petcollars•Kitchen, laundry, and bath disinfectantsand sanitizers•Products that kill mold and mildew •Some lawn and garden products, such as weed killers•Some swimming pool chemicalsBy their very nature, most pesticides createsome risk of harm to humans, animals, or theenvironment because they are designed to killor otherwise adversely affect living organisms. At the same time, pesticides are useful to soci-ety because of their ability to kill potential dis-ease-causing organisms and control insects, weeds, and other pests. In the United States,the Office of Pesticide Programs of the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency is chiefly respon-sible for regulating pesticides.Biologically-based pesticides, such as phero-mones and microbial pesticides, are becomingincreasingly popular and often are safer thantraditional chemical pesticides.Here are some common kinds of pesticides andtheir function:
 Algicides
: control algae in lakes, canals, swim-ming pools, water tanks, and other sites.
 Antifouling agents
: kill or repel organisms that at-tach to underwater surfaces, such as boat bottoms.
 Antimicrobials
: kill microorganisms such asbacteria and viruses.
 Attractants
: attract pests by luring an insect orrodent to a trap. (However, food is not consid-ered a pesticide when used as an attractant.)
Biocides
: kill microorganisms.
Trade or brand names used in this publication are used only for the purpose of educational information. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and noendorsement is implied. Nor does it imply approval of products to the exclusion of others which may also be suitable. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, incooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Glen Whipple, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-3354. Persons seeking admission, employment, or access to programs of the University of Wyoming shall be considered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political belief, disability, veteran status, and marital or familial status.
Pesticide Education Program, Prepared by M.A. Ferrell, UW Cooperative Extension Pesticide Coordinator
Department of Plant Sciences , P.O. Box 3354, Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3354, ph (307) 766-5381
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