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General Information
Types of Pesticides
Pesticides can also be classed as synthetic pesticides or biological pesticides, although the distinction can
sometimes blur.
A systemic pesticide is a pesticide applied to a plant which is absorbed into its sap and so distributed
throughout the plant to make all parts of it poisonous to pests, without harming the plant, although systemic
insecticides which poison pollen and nectar in the flowers may kill needed pollinators.
Since before 500 BC, humans have used pesticides to prevent damage to their crops. The first known pesticide
was sulfur. By the 15th century, toxic chemicals such as arsenic,
mercury and lead were being applied to crops to kill pests. In the 17th
century, nicotine sulfate was extracted from tobacco leaves for use as
an insecticide. The 19th century saw the introduction of two more
natural pesticides, pyrethrum which is derived from chrysanthemums,
and rotenone which is derived from the roots of tropical vegetables.
In 1939, Paul Müller discovered that DDT was a very effective
insecticide. It quickly became the most widely-used pesticide in the
world. However, in the 1960s, it was discovered that DDT was preventing many fish-eating birds from
reproducing which was a huge threat to biodiversity. Rachel Carson wrote the best-selling book “Silent Spring”
about biological magnification. DDT is now banned in at least 86 countries, but it is still used in some
developing nations to prevent malaria and other tropical diseases by killing mosquitos and other disease-
carrying insects.
Pesticide use has increased 50-fold since 1950, and 2.5 million tons of industrial pesticides are now used each
year.
Regulation
On the environment
Pesticides have been found to pollute virtually every lake, river and stream in the United States, according to the
US Geological Survey. Pesticide runoff has been found to be highly lethal to amphibians, according to a recent
study by the University of Pittsburgh. Pesticide impacts on aquatic systems are often studied using a hydrology
transport model to study movement and fate of chemicals in rivers and streams.
The use of pesticides also decreases biodiversity in the soil. Not using them results in higher soil quality with
the additional effect that more life in the soil allows for higher water retention. This helps increase yields for
farms in drought years where there is less rain. For example, during drought years, organic farms have been
found to have yields 20-40% higher than conventional farms.
On farmers
There have been many studies of farmers with the goal of determining the health effects of pesticide exposure.
Research in Bangldesh suggests that many farmers’ do not need to apply pesticide to their rice fields, but
continue to do so only because the pesticide is paid for by the government. Organophosphate pesticides have
increased in use, because they are less damaging to the environment they are less persistent than organochlorine
Dangers of pesticides
Pest resistance to a pesticide is commonly managed through pesticide rotation or tankmixing with other
pesticides.
Rotation involves alternating among pesticide classes with different modes of action to delay the onset of or
mitigate existing pest resistance. Different pesticide classes may be active on different pest sites of action. The
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U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA or USEPA) designates different classes of fungicides, herbicides and
insecticides. Pesticide manufacturers may, on product labeling, require that no more than a specified number of
consecutive applications of a pesticide class be made before alternating to a different pesticide class. This
manufacturer requirement is intended to extend the useful life of a product.
Tankmixing pesticides is the combination of two or more pesticides with different modes of action. This
practice may improve individual pesticide application results in addition to the benefit of delaying the onset of
or mitigating existing pest resistance.
Pesticides are often highly efficient for producers who are in the business
of large scale agriculture. Pesticide safety education and pesticide
applicator regulation are designed to protect the public from pesticide
misuse, but do not eliminate all misuse. Reducing the use of pesticides
and replacing high risk pesticides is the ultimate solution to reducing
risks placed on our society from pesticide use. For over 30 years, there
has been a trend in the United States and in many other parts of the
world to use pesticides in combination with alternative pest controls.
This use of integrated pest management (IPM) is now commonplace in
US agriculture. With pesticide regulations that now put a higher priority
on reducing the risks of pesticides in our food supply and emphasize environmental protection, old pesticides
are being phased out in favor of new reduced risk pesticides. Many of these reduced risk pesticides include
biological and botanical derivatives and alternatives. As a result, older, more hazardous, pesticides are being
phased out and replaced with pest controls that reduce these health and environmental risks. Chemical engineers
continually develop new pesticides to produce enhancements over previous generations of products. In addition,
applicators are being encouraged to consider alternative controls and adopt methods that reduce the use of
chemical pesticides. This process is on-going and is not an immediate solution to the risks of pesticide use.
In 2006, the World Health Organization suggested the resumption of the limited use of DDT to fight malaria.
They called for the use of DDT to coat the inside walls of houses in areas where mosquitoes are prevalent. Dr.
Arata Kochi, WHO’s malaria chief, said , “One of the best tools we have against malaria is indoor residual
house spraying. Of the dozen insecticides that has approved as safe for house spraying, the most effective is
DDT.”
Insecticides. These products kill a wide range of insects, either by contact or by ingestion by the target insect.
The more commonly found insecticides are acephate (Orthenex), carbaryl (Sevin), Malathion, Imidicloprid
(Merit or Tree and Shrub Insect Control) or pyrethroids (synthetic versions of plant-based pyrethrins, includes
cyfluthrin and permethrin).
Miticides. Mites are not true insects, as they have eight legs, no antennae or true jaws. Almost microscopic in
size, they cause a lot of damage. Among the well-known mites are the red spider mites, russet (or rust) and the
citrus bud mite. Sprays containing ethion, an organic phosphate, are commonly used to control mites.
Herbicides. These chemicals kill weeds and plants by disrupting a phase in their growth. Some are selective,
killing only a certain type of weed (broad-leaved, grasses) while others will kill anything that the spray contacts.
Glyphosate (Roundup, etc.), glufosinate-ammonium (Finale), sethoxydim (Grass Getter), 2,4-D/2,4-DP (Brush
Buster) and triclopyr (Brush Killer) are currently on the market.
ORGANIC PESTICIDES
Organic pesticides are compounds used to control pests that contain carbon. Although organic pesticides can
occur naturally, they are most often human-made (synthetic). They get their name based on some aspect of their
chemistry. For example organophosphate pesticides contain phosphorus
and carbamate pesticides and have a carbamic acid base.
Over the centuries, since the raising of food became the chief means of
survival, farmers have tried using many plants or their extracts to eradicate the insects and diseases that ravaged
their crops. An organic (natural) pesticide is one that has components found in plants, animals or minerals, or
whose action is a result of a biological process such as Bacillus thuringiensis, or commonly known as “Bt”.
Be aware that an “organic” or “natural” pesticide does not mean harmless to humans if the concentrate or spray
is inhaled, ingested, gets into the eyes, on the skin or used incorrectly.
INSECTICIDES
Horticultural oils. Horticultural oil (highly refined petroleum product such as Volck Oil), mineral oil, garlic oil,
citrus oil and Neem oil (containing azadirachtin, from the seeds of the neem tree of India and Africa) are widely
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used by organic gardeners. Oils suffocate the insect and must contact and cover the insect to be effective. Some
fungicidal effects are also claimed with the use of some oils.
Insecticidal soap (not a true soap, but the potassium salts of fatty acids found in animal fats and plant oils).
Some use homemade detergent mixtures. Soaps, either commercial products or homemade, enter the breathing
tubes of insects, causing their collapse and the death of the insect.
Sabadilla. Made from the seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale of Venezuela, containing alkaloids. It is used as
dust. Moderately toxic to honeybees, mammals and causes violent allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
It is effective on a wide range of insect larva and adults.
Boric acid. Very effective when combined with a food that attracts ants and cockroaches. Commercially made
traps are available or you can make your own.
Ryania. From the shrub Ryania speciosa and sold as a dust. It is touted as a broad-
spectrum insecticide. Often found in mixtures of ryania, pyrethrin and rotenone.
Rotenone. Extracted from a variety of plants and once very popular, but because
of new products available and rotenone’s deadly poisonous nature, is now seldom
used.
Pyrethrins or Pyrethrum. The Pyrethrum daisies (Chrysanthemum cinerarariifolium and C. coccinium) contain
compounds that kill insects on contact. Pyrethrins are effective broad-spectrum insecticides and can safely be
used in the garden, on vegetables and on fruit trees. These sprays and dusts are often mixed with sulfur or other
compounds, giving them fungicidal properties or with other botanical insecticides. The products containing
pyrethrins are commonly found.
Nicotine sulfate. Known for decades by gardeners and farmers as Black Leaf 40, this highly poisonous
insecticide is extracted from a tobacco selected for its high nicotine content. Nicotine is highly toxic to
mammals when taken internally or absorbed through the skin. You must wear protective clothing, including
gloves, goggles and a respirator when spraying this insecticide.
Lime. An old-time insecticide. Wear protective gear, including gloves, goggles and a respirator when applying
to prevent inhalation of the dust.
Ammonia. Household ammonia is used to control many insects, but refrain from use in hotter weather.
Ammonia may injure the leaves of some plants so test before usage.
Quassia. From the wood and bark of the Quassia amara or Bitterwood tree. Typically, the bark and wood chips
are spread over the soil or are ground up to make sprays.
Alcohol. The sprays containing 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) are used outdoors and indoors on
waxy-foliaged houseplants, controlling many sucking insects.
ORGANIC FUNGICIDES
Mildews, scabs, rots and rusts disfigure many flowers, shrubs, shade trees and fruit trees. Farmers and gardeners
have used some of these fungicides for many years, long before any inorganic fungicides were developed. As
with insecticides, exercise caution when using, following directions explicitly as stated on the label.
Sulfur. One of the longest in use, sulfur is used to control both insects and
as a fungicide. It is considered a protectant fungicide. It is sold as a dust
(containing a small amount of clay or talc to enhance dusting qualities)
and as a wettable powder (it has a wetting agent added). Do not use sulfur
when the temperatures exceed 80 degrees F. Use only plastic sprayers, as
sulfur corrodes metals. Use protective gear when dusting or spraying.
Lime-sulfur. When lime is added to sulfur the fungicidal qualities of sulfur
is enhanced. Lime lets the sulfur penetrate the tissues, becoming an eradicant, killing recently germinated fungal
spores. The addition has a downside, the possibility of plant damage. Test the spray (or dust) on a small section
of the plant. Do not use when the temperatures exceed 85 degrees F. When using, wear protective gear,
including gloves and goggles.
Bordeaux mix. This old-time fungicide is a mix of copper sulfate and hydrated lime. Used as a spray or in
wettable powder form and has insecticidal and insect repellent properties. Bordeaux mix controls many plant
diseases, such as mildews, rusts, leaf curl, fire blight and some bacterial diseases. Read and follow label
directions carefully, refraining from use when temperatures are below 50 degrees F. and testing for possible
foliar damage.
Baking soda. Used as an eradicant, killing organisms that infect a plant as well as being a protectorant. Its
qualities are enhanced with the use of horticultural oil in equal amounts and mixed with water.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
This large group of insecticides varies considerably in their toxicity to mammals. Many of the chlorinated
hydrocarbon insecticides are prohibited from use in the United States. Their prohibition is primarily due to their
persistence in the environment and ability to accumulate in the fatty tissues of birds and mammals. Examples of
the prohibited pesticides within this group include DDT, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, mirex and heptachlor.
Members of this group that continue to have registered uses in the US include lindane, dicofol, and
methoxychlor. Methoxychlor pesticide products are still available in a variety of formulations for control of
various indoor and outdoor insects. Use of methoxychlor and the less persistent and newer synthetic pyrethroid
and fluorinated hydrocarbon pesticide products have largely replaced other chlorinated hydrocarbon-containing
pesticide products in schools and other sensitive areas.
Organophosphates
Carbamates
Carbamates are another large group of insecticides, a few of which are commonly used in the structural pest
control industry and around schools. Like the organophosphates, many of the carbamate insecticides used in
school, except perhaps for bendiocarb (Ficam) and propoxur (Baygon), are being replaced by the fluorinated
hydrocarbon baits and pyrethroids. Like the organophosphates, carbamates are cholinesterase inhibitors,
however their inhibition of this enzyme is reversible. Therefore, compared to the organophosphates, people
excessively exposed to carbamates have a greatly reduced likelihood of acute nerve poisoning and a greatly
increased recovery rate. Carbamates, like organophosphates, do not accumulate in the environment or fatty
tissues of mammals. Both carbamates and organophosphates act as contact insecticides with some stomach
poisoning activity. In addition to their use as insecticides, a number of carbamates are also used as herbicides
and fungicides. Bendiocarb and propoxur are two carbamate insecticides that continue to be used indoors in
schools in low-impact situations. Bendiocarb is very effective against ants, bees and wasps and is useful for
crack and crevice applications. Propoxur is effective on a variety of flying and crawling insects found in and
around school buildings. It is labeled for crack and crevice treatments in food handling situations and it is
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available in baits and many other formulations. Carbraryl (Sevin) dusts, wettable powders and aerosol
formulations continue to be used around schools, mostly outdoors, for controlling various turf, ornamental and
invasive insect pests.
Synthetic Pyrethroids
The synthetic pyrethroids or pyrethroids have a long and successful history in pest control. For ease of
classification they are placed in two categories or generations.
First generation pyrethroids have many of the same characteristics as pyrethrum, but are more stable, have
greater killing power, and are somewhat less irritating to the eyes and skin. Some first generation pyrethroids
commonly used to control pests in schools include: phenothrin/d-phenothrin (many), resmethrin/transresmethrin
(Endal), s-bioallethrein (many) and tetramethrin (many). Although some pesticide products contain only a first
generation ingredient most products containing first generation pyrethroids are combination products. These
combination formulations may contain first and/or second-generation pyrethroids or a variety of combinations
of a one or more pyrethroids or organophosphates. Many first and second-generation pyrethroid products
contain a synergist (i.e. piperonyl butoxide and MGK 264), which increases the insecticidal activity of the
product.
The second-generation pyrethroids are the most common insecticides used in urban pest control. Their frequent
use in structural pest control is largely attributed to their exceptional insecticidal activity and greatly reduced
rates of application. Some second-generation pyrethroids are used singly or in combination with other
pyrethroids or organophosphates. Some of the common second generation insecticides currently used around
schools, either singly or in combination with other insecticides, include: cypermethrin (Demon), permethrin
(many), cyfluthrin (Tempo), and lamda-cyhalothrin (Commodore). The signal word of first and second-
generation pyrethroid insecticide products varies with the active ingredient and the formulation. A primary
factor related to their toxicity is the degree of eye irritation caused by the active ingredient concentrate.
FLUORINATED HYDROCARBONS
BIOLOGICAL PESTICIDES
This group contains the microbial pesticides, insect growth regulators, pheromones and the botanical pesticides.
Except for the botanicals, this group differs from other pesticides groups in that they consist of a variety of
chemicals of natural origin or synthetic versions of natural chemicals that target specific species and usually
have little impact on non-targeted species. The botanicals pesticides are extracted from plants and are used
alone or with other pesticides. They usually are used to control a wide variety of insect or weed pests.
Biological pesticides that are sometimes used or potentially could be used around schools include microbial
pesticides, insect growth regulators, pheromones and select botanicals, such as pyrethrum and corn gluten.
Microbial Pesticides
An increasing number of pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses) are being registered as pesticides for control of
specific insects and plant diseases, especially in agriculture. Currently, only one pathogen, a naturally occurring
fungus, has been registered for use in structural pest control. The fungus, Metarhizium anislopia, is available as
Biopath and is used in tamper-resistant chambers as a slow acting contact poison for controlling cockroaches.
The spores of a number of varieties of the bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis, are available in a number of
commercial products for controlling larval mosquitoes, caterpillars and other select species of insects. These
species specific and low toxicity pesticide products have some potential use for controlling larval mosquitoes in
school yards or for controlling caterpillar pests in school gardens or greenhouses.
Avermectins
Insect growth regulators are a group of compounds that affect the ability of insects to grow and mature
normally. They consist of synthetic chemicals that mimic the naturally occurring growth hormones that occur
within an insect’s body. There are two classes of materials that currently fall into the IGR category; juvenile
hormone analogs (juvenoids) and chitin synthesis inhibitors. Currently, juvenoids are the only IGR’s available
for use by professional pest management for school pest situations. The effects on the insect vary with the
chemical nature of the IGR. Some extend the period of larval or nymphal stages of insects, others prohibit the
larval stage from pupating or its ability to pupate, and other IGR’s cause infertile adults. IGR’s are effective at
very low rates and present a very low risk to humans and pets. However, they are effective on very limited
number of pests and typically take several months to affect a pest population.
Three IGR compounds are formulated into urban IGR pesticide products: fenoxycarb, hydroprene and
methoprene. Fenoxycarb (Torus and Award) can kill some early nymphal instars of insects such as fleas and
cockroaches. It can prevent their nymphs from becoming adults and it can also reduce egg hatch in treated
females. Hydroprene (Gencor, Gentrol) is used on cockroaches. Treated nymphs develop into infertile adults.
Hydroprene is often initially applied as mixture of hyrdroprene and a conventional insecticide to control
existing adult cockroaches that are not affected by hydroprene alone. Methoprene spray is used against fleas
(Precor) and pharaoh ants (Pharorid). It prolongs larval development and prevents pupation in fleas and
prevents the larvae of pharaoh ants from developing normally and causes the queen to be sterile. Methoprene
baits often take several months to eliminate a colony of pharaoh ants.
Chitin synthesis inhibitors disrupt the normal molting process of insects by interfering with chitin, a major
component of an insect’s exoskeleton. Currently one compound, hexaflumuron (Sentricon) show considerable
promise against certain termite species. Other similar bait products are currently under development for control
of a variety of structural pests.
Pheromones
Botanicals
Examples of botanical pesticides include pyrethrum, rotonone, nicotine, strychnine, and corn gluten. The fact
that these compounds are “natural” does not mean that they have low toxicity. Nicotine containing insecticides
and strychnine containing rodenticides are very toxic to humans and animals and EPA
has suspended many of their uses.
Pyrethrum insecticides are best known for their rapid knockdown properties and low
residual activity. Pyrethrum also has a good safety record in consumer and commercial
pest control products. However, one key disadvantage is that they are toxic to fish and
can cause skin irritation in humans.
Corn gluten is the protein and nitrogen residue remaining after starch is removed from
corn kernels during wet-milling. It has recently been found to have preemergent
herbicide properties that can prevent the germination of certain annual weed seeds.
Corn gluten has recently been gaining some acceptance as a natural herbicide in golf course and residential turf
management.
“Pesticide” is an all-inclusive word used to designate anything that kills pests such as insects (insecticide),
fungus (fungicide), mites (miticide), weeds (herbicide), slugs and snails (molluscicides), nematodes
(nematicides) and bacteria (bactericides).
For centuries, ever since man moved from a nomadic existence to a hunter-gatherer then to an agrarian society,
farmers and home vegetable gardeners bemoaned the fact that many insects devoured their crops, often leading
to starvation and eventual death of loved ones because of the loss.
Danger
I Poison High 0-50 0-200 0-2000
Skull
Insects and diseases may develop a resistance to many pesticides, both organic and inorganic. Gardeners may
find it necessary to switch to different pesticides if insect or fungal populations do not seem to be affected or
lowered by the poisons used.
Carefully read the directions and precautions twice before using pesticides. Use all protective gear
recommended on the label.
Use all pesticides sparingly and wisely. When inorganic pesticides first came on the market, gardeners would
spray the landscape “fence to fence” unaware of the consequences of their actions. Spray only the target insect
or fungus or plant.
Some pesticides are toxic to birds, bees, fish and some mammals. The label will tell you if it is. If using
homemade pesticides, be aware of potential harm.
Sadly, insecticides do not distinguish between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” and all too often we
eradicate the beneficial or harmless insects when using an insecticide.