57 Ways - 18. Understand Pesticide Toxicity

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57 Ways To Protect Your Home Environment (and Yourself)

Caring for the Home Landscape

1. Aim for a healthy lawn rather than a perfect lawn
2. Cut the grass without gas
3. Prevent insect, disease, and weed problems in the garden
4. Identify fruits and vegetables that need fewer pesticides
5. Select native trees and shrubs that will thrive in your yard
6. Keep your tress healthy and safe
7. Plant “wild” in your backyard
8. Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard

Using Alternatives to Traditional Pesticides & Fertilizers - Where Practical

9. Scout for pests on the landscape
10. Consider microbial insecticides
11. Consider botanical insecticides & insecticidal soaps
12. Conserve beneficial insects
13. Monitor & control insects with traps
14. Use pest barriers in your garden
15. Solarize soil
16. Consider the potential of natural fertilizers

Using Chemicals on the Landscape - If Necessary

17. Know what to ask a lawn-care company and arborist
18. Understand pesticide toxicity
19. Read the pesticide label
20. Apply pesticides accurately and safely
21. Apply fertilizers accurately and safely

Storing & Disposing of Hazardous Chemicals

22. Store hazardous chemicals safely
23. Dispose of pesticides safely
24. Dispose of auto products safely
25. Dispose of paints and solvents safely
26. Dispose of adhesives, areosols, household cleaners & other hazardous waste safely

Managing Yard, Food & Other Household Waste

27. Reduce household waste
28. Recycle paper, glass, & aluminum
29. Reuse and respond
30. Recycle grass clippings
31. Create a compost pile
32. Use yard waste as mulch
33. Dispose of tree residues

Protecting Your Drinking Water

34. Know when & how to test your water
35. Test your water for coliform bacteria & nitrate 36. Test your water for pesticides - if necessary
37. Know the signs of contaminants in drinking water
38. Select effective water-treatment methods
39. Prevent contamination from septic systems
40. Know the pros & cons of bottled water

Protecting the Indoor Environment

41. Prevent contamination by lead
42. Test your home for radon
43. Reduce radon levels
44. Control dust, dust mites & other allergens
45. Reduce pollution from combustion equipment
46. Prevent contamination by formaldehyde and asbestos
47. Recognize tht it's not always necessary to control indoor insects
48. Select the right household pesticide
49. Control household pests with less toxic alternatives
50. Select household cleaners wisely

Conserving Energy & Water

51. Design new homes for energy effciency
52. Save energy in heating & cooling
53. Insulate & seal your home
54. Choose energy-efficient appliances
55. Save money & energy with compact fluorescent light bulbs
56. Use plants & other landscape tools to conserve energy
57. Conserve water in & around the home

18. Understand Pesticide Toxicity
	Toxicity is the inherent ability of a pesticide to cause injury or death, indicating how poisonous the chemical is. Acute toxicity is the ability of a substance to cause harm as a result of a single dose or exposure to a chemical. Chronic toxicity is the ability of a substance to cause harm as the result of repeated doses or exposures over time.
	The tests for acute and chronic toxicity are the only scientifically based methods currently used to predict risks to users and consumers. But they have limitations. These tests are usually done on rodents, which may not always accurately predict effects on humans. Plus, they do not take into consideration the possible interaction and effect of several compounds together.
	All labels include the warning, “Keep out of reach of children.” In addition, most labels include “signal words” which give an idea of the pesticide’s toxicity or corrosiveness. These signal words are relative terms. They indicate how pesticides compare to one another. Even if a pesticide is considered to be relatively low in toxicity, it can be a deadly poison at a fairly low dose.
	“Danger-poison” indicates a highly toxic pesticide. It may take a few drops to one teaspoon of the chemical in concentrated form, taken through the mouth, to kill an adult. Severe injury may occur at even lower doses.
	“Danger” indicates a highly corrosive pesticide. Although the pesticide may not be extremely toxic, it may severely injure the eyes or respiratory and digestive tracts. It may also cause severe skin burns.
	“Warning” indicates a moderately toxic or corrosive pesticide. On average, it takes 1 teaspoon to 1 ounce of the chemical in concentrated form, taken through the mouth, to kill an adult. Severe injury may occur at lower doses.
	“Caution” indicates relatively low toxicity or corrosiveness. It takes more than 1 ounce in a single dose of the concentrated chemical to kill the “average” adult.