STEP #30

Use Nontoxic Bug Sprays

Beware of petroleum-based home and garden pesticides. Growing evidence shows pesticides are hazardous to your health and to the health of your children. The incidence of leukemia and childhood brain cancer increased in children whose parents used petroleum-based pesticides in their home or garden. A risk for childhood leukemia was four times higher than normal with home pesticide use and some six to seven times higher for children of parents who used garden pesticides, as reported in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives (Daniels et al., 1997). The risk increased with more frequent use.

We may not realize the health risks posed by common household and garden pest-control products, for example, no-pest strips containing the carcinogenic active ingredient dichlorvos (DDVP) emit continuous harmful vapors, and pesticides used to control termites, shampoos containing the pesticide lindane, flea collars on pets, diazinon in the garden or orchard, and herbicides to control weeds constitute health hazards we unwittingly use in our homes.

In addition to the serious health hazards, pesticides generate billions of dollars for the oil industry each year. Effective alternatives to dangerous pesticides are increasingly available as companies like EcoSMART respond to consumers’ demand for safer pest-control options.

EcoSMART makes organic insecticides from plant-based oils such as rosemary and cinnamon.

These botanical ingredients have proven effective in university research and field usage, even providing residual protection against insects.

“EcoSMART’s advanced technology is based on the natural defenses that plants and trees use for their self-protection against insects and pathogens. After over a decade of research, EcoSMART harnessed this power in revolutionary botanical-based alternatives to conventional insecticides. And unlike many insecticides on the market, there is no known pest resistance to EcoSMART’s botanical active ingredients,” according to their website, www.EcoSmart.com.

And their safe, natural ingredients are regarded by the FDA as “Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).” This is a simple step toward eco-friendly pest management that is good for your health and that also promotes a sustainable and healthy environment.

The following generic pesticides are carcinogenic and should never be used:

• acephate
• atrazine
• benomyl
• captan
• chlorothalonil
• 2,4-D
• DDVP
• dacthal (DCPA)
• isoxaben
• maneb
• permethrin
• pronamide
• triadimefon

If you see any of these ingredients on the label of your product, discard it and buy a safer alternative.