Organic Pest Control: How Safe Is It?
Whether you use traditional “synthetic” pest products around your home (we’re talking about flea and ant and roach killer here) or so-called “organic pesticides; do you really think they are deemed “safe?”
Science is constantly changing, growing and learning; ie: evolving..and so is the pesticide industry. Thirty years ago pesticides were very toxic and left residues in the environment for a long time.
Today, we use “Integrated Pest Management” to manage pests with the least possible impact on people, property, and the environment. That means no blanket spraying of pesticides. It also means using means other than chemicals to rid the area of pests. A good example would be removing dead wood that attracts bugs rather than spraying that wood pile with chems. Cool right?
Modern pesticides are the result of billions of dollars spent on research over the years. Some of the research has come from public institutions, such as universities, and some from large multinational corporations.
The end results are products that are safer and more effective than ever. Today’s pesticides are more focused and have fewer dangers for people and the environment.
These products typically target the nervous system of the particular pest and the dosage is designed to be strong enough to kill the pest while leaving very little residue in the home or soil.
One example is Bayer’s Maxforce Roach Killer Bait Gels, which have USDA authorization for use in federally inspected meat and poultry plants. You can use Maxforce Gel in residential food processing areas without covering food preparation surfaces during treatment. It’s also fine to use in occupied rooms of hospitals, nursing homes and extended care facilities. It’s a very safe product.
In the last 10 years, one line of research has been in the area of “natural” pesticides. This typically means that certain botanical plant oils have been processed, combined, or concentrated into pesticides.
These plant oils have a unique action that targets a key neurotransmitter receptor called octopamine which is found in all invertebrates (i.e. insects), but not in mammals.
Octopamine regulates an insect’s heart rate, movement and metabolism. Interrupting the function of octopamine results in a total breakdown of the insect’s nervous system.
In the last 5 years, actual pesticide products have been developed. And, in the last 4 years, the EPA has determined that some of these products pose a “reduced risk” or “minimum risk” and are exempt from many EPA regulations.
The bottom line for you is that today’s products are safer and more effective in controlling pests than ever before in our history. Whether you use synthetic or natural pesticides is up to you, but both work in similar ways and offer a great value.
You can get estimates from proven professionals who use a combination of Integrated Pest Management and responsible, organic pest control using our partner network on Service Magic.