Health and Safety Information

<!DOCTYPE html>  <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Health and Safety Information</title> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no"> <link href='/new/css/bootstrap.min.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /> <script src="/new/js/jquery-1.12.4.min.js"></script> <script src="/new/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script> <script src="https://npic.orst.edu/js/jquery.smartmenus.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src='https://npic.orst.edu/js/image-map.js' type='text/javascript'></script> <script src="https://npic.orst.edu/js/npic.js" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> <link href='https://npic.orst.edu/css/sm-core-css.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link href='https://npic.orst.edu/css/sm-npic.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/new/css/npic_new.css">  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-3EVX636MBE"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; 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display: block; height: 220px;"> <img class='img-fluid' src='images/healthbnr.png' alt='' title='gardening, photo credit: Sean Ross, Oregon State University' style='max-height:200px;max-width:1200px; width:100%; position:absolute; left:0; bottom:0; z-index:1;'> <h1 style="margin-left:0.5em; position:absolute; left: 0; bottom: 0.5em; z-index: 2;">Health and Safety Information</h1> <p style='margin-left:1.5em; position:absolute; left: 0; bottom: 0; z-index: 2;'><a href='index.es.html'><b>En español</b></a></p> </div> </div> <p>Pesticides can be beneficial to society in many ways. Pesticides are used to control:</p> <ul> <li>disease-carrying insects like ticks and mosquitoes <li>rodents which may transmit disease <li>germs and pathogenic organisms <li>pests that damage homes and structures vital to public safety <li>pests that damage crops </ul> <p>However, pesticides can also be harmful to human or animal health or the environment when pesticides are not used according to label directions, or when one is over-exposed to a pesticide. Examples of harm include:</p> <ul> <li>Mothballs may cause health problems when not used in air-tight containers as directed by the product label. <li>Pesticides may be ingested if stored improperly in food or beverage containers. <li>Your cat may become sick if you apply a flea product that is intended for dogs. </ul> <p>Therefore, when using pesticides:</p> <ul> <li>Minimize the need for pesticides by practicing <a href="/pest/ipm.html">integrated pest management.</a> <li>Use only what you need this season. <li>Always <a href="readlabel.html">read and follow the label directions.</a> <li>Follow <a href="safeuse.html">safe use practices, including wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.</a> <li><a href="minexp.html">Minimize your exposure.</a> </ul> <h3>Learn more about:</h3> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="thumbnail"> <div style="max-height: 100px; overflow: hidden;"><a href='humhealth.html' target='_blank'><img class="img-responsive" style="margin:0 auto; border:solid; border:black; border-width:1px;" src="images/humhealth.jpg" height="77" width="116" alt="" title='family, photo credit: CDC Minority Health'></a></div> <div class="caption text-center"> <p><a href="humhealth.html">Human Health</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="thumbnail"> <div style="max-height: 100px; overflow: hidden;"><a href='animhealth.html' target='_blank'><img class="img-responsive" style="margin:0 auto; border:solid; border:black; border-width:1px;" src="images/animhealth.jpg" height="77" width="117" alt="" title="dog and cat in yard, photo credit: JacLou DL, pixabay"></a></div> <div class="caption text-center"> <p><a href="animhealth.html">Animal Health</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="thumbnail"> <div style="max-height: 100px; overflow: hidden;"><a href='safeuse.html' target='_blank'><img class="img-responsive" style="margin:0 auto; border:solid; border:black; border-width:1px;" src="images/safeuse.jpg" height="77" width="115" alt="" title="spraying weeds wearing ppe, photo credit: Sean Ross, Oregon State University"></a></div> <div class="caption text-center"> <p><a href="safeuse.html">Safe Use Practices for Pesticides</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="thumbnail"> <div style="max-height: 100px; overflow: hidden;"><a href='food.html' target='_blank'><img class="img-responsive" style="margin:0 auto; border:solid; border:black; border-width:1px;" src="images/food.jpg" height="77" width="51" alt="" title="apples, photo credit: Scott Bauer, USDA ARS (image number K7252-65)"></a></div> <div class="caption text-center"> <p><a href="food.html">Food Safety</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at <span class="bigger"><b>800-858-7378</b></span> (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at <a href='mailto:npic@ace.orst.edu'>npic@ace.orst.edu</a>.</p> <div id='lastUpdated'>Last updated September 27, 2023</div> </div>  <div class='container-fluid'> <div class='row'> <div class='col-md-12'> <p> </p><hr><h3>Related NPIC Topics:</h3> <div id='relatedLinks'><ul> <li><a href='/ingred/index.html'>Pesticide Ingredients</a></li> <li><a href='humhealth.html'>Human Health</a></li> <li><a href='animhealth.html'>Animal Health</a></li> <li><a href='safeuse.html'>Safe Use Practices</a></li> <li><a href='/pest/index.html'>Pest Control</a></li> <li><a href='food.html'>Food Safety</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/lowrisk.html'>Low Risk Pesticides</a></li> <li><a href='/pest/ipm.html'>Integrated Pest Management</a></li> <li><a href='/faq/index.html'>Frequently Asked Questions</a></li> <li><a href='/capro/howsafe.html'>How safe are pesticides?</a></li> </ul></div><div> <h3>What are pests?</h3> <ul><li><a href='https://npic.orst.edu/pest/learnpest.html'>Learn about a pest</a></li> <li><a href='https://npic.orst.edu/pest/idpest.html'>Identify a pest</a></li> <li><a href='https://npic.orst.edu/pest/controlpest.html'>Control a pest</a></li> <li><a href='https://npic.orst.edu/pest/ipm.html'>Integrated Pest Management</a></li> </ul> <h3>What are pesticides?</h3> <ul> <li><a href='/pest/weeds.html'>Herbicides</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/amicrob/index.html'>Disinfectants</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/fungicide.html'>Fungicides</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/insecticide.html'>Insecticides</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/natbio.html'>Natural and Biological Pesticides</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/repel.html'>Repellents</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/rodenticide.html'>Rodenticides</a></li> <li><a href='/ingred/ptype/index.html'>Other types of pesticides</a></li> </ul> </div></div></div> <div style='height: 5em;'></div> <footer class="footer"> <div class="container"> <p> Please read our <a href="https://npic.orst.edu/Disclaimer.html">disclaimer</a> | <a href="https://npic.orst.edu/contactus.html">Contact us</a> | <a href='https://npic.orst.edu/about.html'>About NPIC</a> | <a href='https://npic.orst.edu/index.es.html'>En español</a></p> <p class='small'><a href='https://npic.orst.edu/about.html'>NPIC</a> provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> and the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> (cooperative agreement #X8-83947901). The information in this publication does not in any way replace or supersede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. EPA.</p> </div> </footer> </body> </html>

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