Pest Control Insecticide Exposure

In reaction to the increasing "chemical-consciousness" in Lancaster, PA, I decided to perform more and more of my services from the exterior of homes and businesses. "Is this justified?", one might ask. Before I answer that question, I'd like to handle a thing that concerns me a lot more: homeowner extermination.

If you never mind, I'd like to cut to the chase here. Most people are aware the EPA regulates which products can be "sprayed", "fogged", or "dusted" in a occupied structure. And as one might expect, that doesn't mean the merchandise are increasingly being used according to label specifications, so user error can cause unnecessary exposure problems. As an expert, I've witnessed a whole lot more toxicity issues with individuals who have pest problems before I ever arrive on the scene. Now, I want to award them for their bravery as they wield cans of empty bug spray, "homeopathic techniques" such as for instance red pepper, moth balls, nicotine gum, you name it (and I've seen it!). But I really get concerned when I see that inside their zeal, they've exposed their family to unnecessary degrees of insecticides or other household products that aren't even labled for bugs (or rodents).

Okay, given that I've gotten that out my system, let's talk about professional pest control. There is a real turnaround before 15 years in professional pest control that's caused us to be more and more responsible and more acute with our treatments. An example could be what we call IPM (Integrated Pest Management). "What's that?", you ask. Don't feel bad, there is some pest control guys who don't know either. IPM could be the art of using a variety of techniques to remove pests without using pesticides exclusively. An example could be this: Say we have a rat infestation at a dumpster next to our favorite restaurant. As opposed to throwing bait all over the dumpster exterior, IPM would reveal that we should move the dumpster from the building, exposing the rats to natural predators. Then, ask the restaurant owner to possess his/her employees lock the doors shut on the dumpster except for when it is used (sanitation). Then, and only then should a protected rat bait station be properly used near the dumpster, and monitored regularly.

In addition to IPM, nearly all of our pesticides are increasingly being formulated to possess without any odor and create lower risks of exposure. An example could be micro-encapsulation, a way whereby the active insecticide has a silicone "bubble" around it to cut back break-down from light and moisture. Also, there were some products have been available over-the-counter for pets which are know being utilized in professional pest control products. I understand it doesn't sound right, but people can use a focus on their dog, but cannot purchase the same active component to be properly used 100 times weaker on the termites (homeowners do not need the equipment to utilize the product anyway, so don't get excited). I mention this and then prove that the pest control products we use are generally safer than most the stuff you have underneath the kitchen sink. Why is us so special then? Training. Additionally, we in the pest control industry aren't willing to reduce our license over mis-application.

Allow me to use a good example of a problem with public usage of professional pest products: Before the EPA took Chlordane off the market in the 1980's, it was available over-the-counter, in concentrate. Meaning that anyone had usage of a chemical that was active in the soil for 25 years at the diluted rate! I've met people who proudly boasted killing a Carpenter Ant nest inside their backyard tree stump by pouring Chlordane concentrate directly on the colony. While this probably doesn't mean anything to the average person, someone acquainted with the pest control industry is cringing right about now--this means potential ground contamination for years, killing anything from beneficial insects to fish in nearby streams! The EPA probably did the proper thing, believing that when they managed to get restricted use (for commercial use only) a black market could be created since no you could imagine life without Chlordane, specifically for termite problems. I point here is that toxicity happens to be higher with public usage, even if the merchandise were a whole lot more dangerous.

If you are concerned with pesticide exposure, please remember that you will likely need pest control a while or another, and if you are considering tackling a pest problem yourself, please remember the dangers to exposure of toxins are much greater once you do-it-yourself exterminator san marcos. Pest control operators don't usually fall prey to the concept "In case a little works good, then the lot will work great!" Actually, we know better. Besides, we have to bear in mind chemical costs and keeping customers!

I started out by asking the question, "Am I justified by treating the perimeter of a property more regularly than treating the inside?" I think that it is more for conscious sake, since pest control technicians suffer with two major tragedies: car accidents and ladder accidents. Believe it or not, chemical toxicity plays almost no issues with pest control personnel. Most of the is due to training in product handling, transportation, and application. But due to advertise trends, I believe it is best to hear your customers. Besides, it can't hurt to take more time preventing pests from entering from the exterior of homes and businesses, before they be in where they turn into a problem and health risk. This leads me to my next point: most don't know the dangers of devoid of pest control! Some think of pest control as a luxury service, history is full of times that pest control was or might have been the answer. Allow me to give some examples: The "Black Death" or Bubonic plague that killed a third of Europe in the late 1340s might have been prevented or eliminated by pest control. You see, rats carrying the plague infested fleas transported them over, letting them jump off and bite humans. Today, most don't tolerate rats, and that is because of the pest control industry raising the standards.

Another exemplory case of pest control that truly solved a major problem happened throughout the construction of the Panama Canal. Malaria and Yellow Fever were transmitted by way of a heavy mosquito population and killed many workers. It wasn't until they used mechanical means (nets, standing water elimination) and the utilization of insecticides, which they gained control and were able to finish the canal.