Pesticides can be beneficial tools. They help control pests - such as weeds, insects, and plant diseases- which transmit disease, destroy crops, or cause damage to property. They allow high-quality food and fiber crops to be grown at a lower cost to consumers. Like many other chemicals, though, pesticides can be hazardous if not used safely.
Most pesticide accidents happen when users are careless or when they do not know how to handle pesticides safely. The time you spend to learn about the safe use of pesticides is an investment in the health and safety of yourself, your family, and others.
This guide deals mainly with pesticides which are highly to moderately toxic when they enter the body through the mouth, lungs, skin, or eyes. You can recognize these pesticides by the "signal words" DANGER or WARNING on their labels.
In this guide, you can learn about:
It also will tell you:
NOTE: Disclaimer - This publication may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registrations, some of the recommendations given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author and Ohio State University Extension assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.
Copyright © The Ohio State University 1989
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868