Whether you are doing your own pest control, or hiring a professional exterminator to come out to your house, the level of pesticide residue within homes across the country is rising. One recent study revealed that approximately 75% or U.S. homes had used at least one indoor pest control product during that year.

Additionally, a different study was done to test whether or not the exposure to pesticides are experienced more outdoors or indoors and it showed that as much as 80% of people were exposed to multiple different kinds of pesticides, within their homes.

The EPA has employed resources to discover the indoor air quality that people are experiencing on a daily basis. They are finding that a majority of the households tested have measurable amounts of pesticides in the air and that a good portion of these pesticide residues cannot be accounted for from the number of times a pesticide was deployed in the homes.

So what are these additional sources of pesticides that are being found? The EPA suggests that they are either brought in from outside via dirt or dust, containers that are being used to store pesticides, or certain types of surfaces that absorb the pesticides and then release them later on.

Types of Pesticides Found

Several different types of pesticides have been found, most of which include those used for controlling various kinds of insects, rodents, fungi, and disinfectants. A majority of households across the U.S., especially in the south, have had to use some kind of pesticide for controlling termites. Termite control product residues were also found heavily throughout the study.

Pesticide Threats

Fortunately the level of threat that commercial and residential pesticides have posed to U.S. households has declined over the last decade, due to the advancements and sophistication of modern pesticides and how they are applied. Back in 1990, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported almost 80,000 exposures of children to popular household pesticides. As sad as they may sound, this same organization also found that half of those families, with children under the age of five, had stored those pesticides in a place that could be reached by children.

The truth is that pesticides can be very safe products, but people need to read the labels and follow the directions to ensure their safe use.

Effects on Health

There are many different effects that pesticides can have one people. Some of these include: damage to the central nervous system, including the kidney, headaches, damage to the liver, an increased risk of cancer, and muscular weakening. These are just of few of the different kinds of effects that pesticides can have on people when used incorrectly. Some side-effects of certain pesticides, including cyclodiene, have been so severe that such products are prohibited now.

What Can Be Done?

There are a few things you can and should to do keep your home safe from negative pesticide effects, specifically the air quality inside your home. First of all, always read the labels and directions of any pest control product you intend to use, before you even open it. Once you have READ THE LABEL, comply with the following recommendations:

• Mix or prepare the pesticide outdoors.
• DO NOT apply more than the recommended amount.
• Open all windows and doors when applying inside your home, until you are done and everything is dry.
• If you can, use alternate methods of pest control, that don’t require the use of chemicals.
• When finished, do not store the left over pesticides inside your home. Throw away all containers used to apply the pesticide, if they are not meant to be re-used.

So, Are Pesticides Safe?

While there are some risks associated with certain pesticides, it is also true that most commercial and residential pest control products on the market today have proven to be effective means of pest control. As long as all labels and directions are strictly followed, many pest products on the market today can be considered safe solutions to pest problems.

About the Author

Written By Jon Sams

If you would like to learn more professional grade pesticides that are both safe and effective, please visit www.domyownpestcontrol.com.

Related posts:

1. Tips for a Lush, Organic Lawn