Pesticides and Home Exposures

Find out how you can reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals in common household and garden pesticide products. Are there homemade solutions to save you money and keep your family safe?

After WWII, wartime chemicals were repurposed for agricultural and home pest control use, leading to widespread reliance on pesticides. While effective at controlling pests, these chemicals pose significant health risks, especially for children. This guide will help you understand these risks and explore safer, cost-effective alternatives to keep your family safe.

What is a Pesticide?
Pesticides are substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests. They’re common in homes and gardens to:

  • Control insects (ants, slugs, snails, larvae)

  • Prevent mold and mildew

  • Manage or prevent weeds and unwanted vegetation

  • Disinfect surfaces

  • Control rodents

Are pesticides harmful to human health?
Human health effects from pesticides often lack sufficient study, and usage instructions can be unclear. Improper use increases risks of exposure through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Even residue from past applications can pose risks and can be especially harmful to children, whose bodies are still developing. Cellular damage from children’s pesticide exposures, even small amounts, can lead to long-term organ damage and diseases like cancer later in life.

Common Exposures

  • Indoor Air: Pesticide sprays or foggers release chemicals and vapors that linger in the air.

  • Household Surfaces: Residue from sprays, traps, or baits may settle on floors, countertops, and furniture.

  • Food and Drink: Contamination occurs through improper storage or pesticide use on kitchen surfaces.

  • Pet Products: Flea and tick treatments can transfer chemicals to humans via contact.

  • Outdoor Carry-In: Residue from treated lawns or gardens can be tracked inside on shoes or clothing. This may increase secondary exposure risks for other members of the family, including pets.

  • Insect and Rodent Bait Traps: Put children and pets at risk if left unsecured due to the risk of unknowingly eating the poison.

Children’s Exposure To Pesticides
Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure due to:

  • Developing immune and metabolic systems

  • "Critical periods" of development when toxins can have lasting effects, particularly neurological and hormonal systems.

  • Behaviors such as playing on lawns, putting objects in their mouth, or hugging pets treated with pesticides

  • Neurological damage can result in poor learning outcomes

  • Exposure risks range from short-term effects such as throat or eye irritation to long-term issues like developmental disorders and cancer and poor behavior outcomes.

Practical Tips for Reducing Exposure:

  • Safe Storage: Keep chemicals out of reach of children and pets. Never repackage pesticides into food containers. Never store any type of pesticide next to food.

  • Opt for Non Toxic Solutions: Try non-toxic options for pest control, like herbal repellents and natural cleaners.

  • Avoid Foggers: These "bug bombs" create lingering indoor exposure risks. Opt for targeted solutions like boric acid or bait stations.

  • Preventative Cleaning: Maintain a clean home, remove dust and dirt regularly, remove food residues immediately, and seal entry points to discourage pests.

  • Ensure Garden Safety: Avoid applying pesticides on garden edibles. Use natural pest control to prevent chemical residue on fruits and vegetables. Look for healthy soil amendments that discourage attacks from pest populations.

At Home mini IPM plan:

What is IPM? IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management, a science-based approach to managing pests that uses a combination of techniques and strategies:

  • Prevention: Don't attract pests, and keep them out of your home

  • Reduction: Use the safest and most effective methods to get rid of pests

  • Elimination: Remove the conditions that lead to pest infestations

Indoor environments can attract a variety of pests into your home. You can make your home a little less appealing to uninvited pests by using IPM and using pesticides only as a last resort.

Make your home less welcoming to pests:

  • Close up the entrances and exits
    Closing up your house is one of the best ways to keep pests out. Check near windows, doors, and piping for small holes or cracks where pests can enter.

  • Remove clutter around the home
    A little clutter may not attract pests, but it provides places to hide.

  • Find and eliminate possible food sources
    Store food for people and pets in sealed containers. Pests, such as moths, are also attracted to dried grains and legumes if not properly stored in a sealed container. Fit the garbage can with a tight lid. Repair faucet leaks to prevent conditions that can attract pests.

  • Keep humidity relatively low
    Less moisture in the air can reduce mold and other pests.

  • Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly
    Regular vacuuming can clean up any crumbs/food, bugs, and eggs that you may not see.

  • Inspect and clean items before bringing them into your home
    Used furniture, rugs, and clothing can bring in bug hitchhikers.

(click on the links for more detail)

Ants
Insect traps
Insect repellants
Flying insects
Moths and the dangers of mothballs/moth crystals 
Moss cleaners (on your roof and in your driveway)
Slug traps

 

Explore these resources to learn about safer alternatives to protect your family from exposure to pesticides in your home and garden for ants, slugs, spiders, moss cleaners (for sidewalks, roof and driveway), insect repellants, insect traps, cockroaches, rodents and other pests.

RESOURCES:

Home Pest Control - provided by Metro Government

Solve Pest Problems posted by Oregon State University

The Safer Choice

 

“In terms of household cleaners, neither ingredients nor products must meet any sort of safety standard, nor is any testing data or notification required before bringing a product to market.”
— Rebecca Sutton, PhD, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group