While working around his yard last month, a neighbor of a friend was seen in shorts and bare feet, spritzing weed killer from a pump spray bottle. He explained his rationale that when he was finished, he could more effectively remove pesticide that drifted onto his skin by showering than he would be able to clean it off his shoes or clothing.
The fault in this thinking can be explained with basic etymology: The word pesticide is derived from the English word "pest," which typically is defined as an annoyance, and "cide," taken from the Latin word occidere, which means to kill. And that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Any product meant to kill (weeds or insects) surely cannot be considered entirely safe; reason dictates that, at the very least, certain precautions should be followed. What my friend's neighbor failed to appreciate is that skin _ the largest organ in the human body _ is porous, effectively absorbing between 29 and 91% (averaging 64 percent) of solvents and volatile organic compounds to which it's exposed, according to a study published by the American Journal of Public Health.
"Just because a product is available for homeowners doesn't mean it is without risk of harm when not used correctly," said Meg McGrath, associate professor of plant pathology at Cornell University in Riverhead.
So what's a home gardener to do? "First and foremost, before you buy any product, you ought to look at the precautions on the label," she added. "Definitely wear shoes, socks and long pants. Some would say wear gloves and even use a respirator, but it's not likely a home gardener would get a hold of one."
Just as analgesic creams applied to the skin can penetrate into the body to ease the pain of muscle spasms, pesticides and other harmful chemicals _ even organic ones _ can be absorbed through the skin and cause harm. Copper, a fungicide often used by organic gardeners, for instance, is damaging to the eyes, McGrath pointed out. "If it gets into your eyes it could cause serious damage." That's why the label advises wearing protective eyewear when handling the product.
"The most important thing people can do is read the package label," McGrath said. "You ought to be doing that with everything." Some labels warn that people and pets should not enter the area of application for a specified period, which could be four hours or even 48 hours. Bug sprays, those insecticides that are meant to be used on the body, include warnings to use only in areas with good air circulation, McGrath noted. "You don't want to be putting those on in your house; there's a reason there's a precaution."
I'm a proponent of integrative pest management, which advocates using the least harmful methods first and escalating _ incrementally _ only if necessary. For instance, if ants are getting into the house, wipe them up with a soapy sponge, refrain from leaving food on the counter or dirty dishes in the sink, and keep surfaces clean. Repair holes in window screens, caulk cracks to seal them, and keep mulch and other organic matter several feet away from the foundation of your home. For carpenter ants, replace decaying wood inside and outside of the house. If that doesn't work, escalate to traps or baits, placing them in areas where you've seen activity. Only if traps fail should chemical sprays be considered, and they should be applied at the lowest recommended rate.
Before buying a pesticide, McGrath said, it's important to pore over the label at the store and note the precautions.
In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which regulates pesticide use in the state, posts images of pesticide labels on its website (dec.ny.gov/nyspad/) so home gardeners can read or download them before buying a product.
According to the National Pesticide Information Center, there are three words consumers should look for on pesticide labels: CAUTION, WARNING and DANGER. They are like code words denoting each product's specific level of toxicity: Products marked "Caution" are lowest in toxicity; "Warning" denotes medium toxicity; and "Danger" indicates the product is among the most toxic.
If you use pesticides, whether as a spray, granules, baits or traps, take care to store them out of the reach of children and away from pets. Always store them in their original, labeled containers. And keep children away from dogs and cats treated against fleas and ticks with a topical pesticide until the product has dried completely.
