Pesticides and You Preventing
Pesticide Poisoning
What is a pesticide?
Pesticides are chemicals developed to kill pests which
include insects, weeds, fungi or rodents. Pesticides are widely used on
agricultural crops, in the home, for mosquito control, in yards, and in
public places.
What are some common pesticides found around the
house?
Common pesticides include:
- Roach sprays and baits
- Bath and kitchen disinfectants and sanitizers,
including bleach
- Rat and other rodent poisons
- Insect repellents
- Products used to kill mold or mildew
- Flea and tick shampoos, powders, and dips for
pets
Weed killers
Are pesticides harmful to people?
Pesticides are designed to be harmful to pests. When
not used properly, pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals, or the
environment. Children, elderly and people with health conditions may be
more adversely affected.
How can I be exposed to pesticide?
Exposure occurs when you come in contact with a
pesticide and it enters the body through ingestion, inhalation, or
contact with the skin, eyes or mucous membranes.
How can I prevent household pesticide poisoning?
- Do NOT store a lot of pesticides in your home. If
necessary, only buy pesticides that you will use each time.
- Most child poisonings happen in a child’s home,
but some take place while visiting the home of a friend, family
member or babysitter. It’s important that potential hazards be
stored out of reach of children in a high locked cabinet.
- Pesticides and foods should never be stored
together. Pesticides could be mistaken for food.
- Keep all substances in their original containers.
Using beverage bottles for storing cleaning products or other
chemicals is very dangerous as the substance may be mistaken for a
beverage.
What should I do if I am exposed to a pesticide?
First aid treatment:
- Poison on skin or clothing – remove clothes
immediately and wash skin with running water for fifteen
minutes.
- Poison in eyes – rinse eyes with water for
fifteen minutes.
- Inhaled Poison – Leave area and seek fresh
air.
- Swallowed poison – Read label to determine if
there is something you should do right away.
- Call Florida Poison Information Center Network (FPICN)
at 1-800-222-1222.
- Seek medical help from your physician or hospital
emergency room. Bring along labels of all pesticides to which you
may have been exposed.
- Contact the Department of Health through the
County Health Department or contact the Department of health, Bureau
of Environmental Public Health Medicine at 1-800-606-5810.
For More Information:
From the Palm Beach County Health Dept.
Epidemiology & Disease Control.
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