pesticide information leaflet series for a general audience
When using this website, keep in the mind the correct definition of a pesticide: any substance that kills, repels, or otherwise controls any pest. Herbicides (weedkillers), fungicides, rodenticides, insecticides, etc. are all pesticides.
The Pesticide Information Leaflets (PIL) series addresses various topics of interest ranging from general information to specific topics of concern. This page presents the current list of PILS that are appropriate for general audiences
No. 4: Pesticide Emergency and Non-Emergancy Information and Resources. Rev. June 2012. 3 pp.
Pesticide users, consumers, and others have questions about pesticides. This leaflet provides telephone numbers and websites to access knowledgeable sources on these issues.
No. 10: Using Insect Repellents Safely. Rev. June 2012. 6 pp.
Historically, insect repellents have been used against mosquitoes, blackflies, and other annoying pests. Increasing concern about Lyme disease, transmitted by the deer tick, and West Nile Virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, has resulted in a corresponding increase in the use of repellents. This leaflet explains how to use available products in the safest manner.
No. 11: Pesticide Safe Use Checklist. Rev. May 2013. 3 pp.
Pesticides are designed to be toxic to the pests they control, but may also pose potential hazards to humans, especially if not used with proper care. This leaflet provides a checklist of safe practices to be used in conjunction with the label directions anytime you plan to use a pesticide.
No. 13: Disposal of Pesticide Containers. Rev. June 2012. 2 pp.
Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.) are designed to be toxic. Improper disposal of pesticides or their containers can lead to environmental contamination and may incur both civil and criminal penalties. This leaflet explains how to properly prepare empty pesticide containers for disposal.
No. 27: Understanding Pesticides. Rev. May 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet explains what pesticides are and offers a brief discussion of their regulation, risks and benefits, and responsible use.
No. 28: How to Read a Pesticide Label. Rev. June 2013. 9 pp.
The pesticide label is a legal document, and it is a violation of the law to use a pesticide in any manner inconsistent with the label. This leaflet explains how the pesticide label is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information presented on the label.
No. 29: How to Read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Rev. June 2013. 6 pp.
The MSDS provides information about a product's composition, physical and chemical properties and hazards, toxicological information, and first aid procedures. This leaflet explains how the MSDS is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information contained in the MSDS.
No. 37: Section 25(b) Pesticides: Minimum Risk? Rev. July 2012. 4 pp.
In 1996, EPA exempted certain pesticides, considered to pose minimum risk to humans and the environment, from the requirement to be reviewed and registered prior to sale and use, provided the products satisfy certain conditions. This publication explains the conditions associated with minimum risk pesticides, provides links to lists of active and inert ingredients currently accepted for this classification, and discusses the concerns held by many pesticide educators and state regulators.
No. 38: Disposal of Household Pesticide Products. June 2012. 3 pp.
Improper disposal of pesticides or their containers can lead to environmental contamination and may incur both civil and criminal penalties. Even in very small quantities, some pesticides can have a substantial adverse impact on sensitive organisms. This leaflet explains EPA's guidelines for disposal of empty non-microbial, residential/household use pesticide products.
No. 40: Pesticide Regulatory Information Resources on the Internet. Rev. August 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet provides internet resources on the laws dealing with pesticide regulation and associated regulations and policies. Two basic laws, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), define how pesticides may be registered, sold, used, transported, stored, and disposed of in the U.S. Additional laws address specific concerns such as safety of pesticide workers (the Worker Protection Standard), protections for endangered species (the Endangered Species Act), and other issues.
No. 44: Research Results from the Agricultural Health Study. Rev. February 2011. 7 pp.
The Agricultural Health Study is a long-term project examining health outcomes for pesticide applicators and their spouses. This leaflet provides highlights of the study.
No. 45: Protecting Pet Heath when Using Flea & Tick Contol Products. Rev. April 2012. 3 pp.
Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting pets to avoid transmission of disease. However, misuse of these products can result in adverse effects ranging from irritation to serious effects including death of sensitive pets. This leaflet provides general guidelines for the safe use of flea and tick products on pets and outlines the steps being taken by regulators to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for cats and dogs.
No. 46: First Aid for Pesticide Emergencies. May 2013. 3 pp.
Pesticide exposures require immediate care. This leaflet provides basic first aid information that can be used alongside specific instructions on pesticide labels and from health care professionals.
No. 47: How to Handle Spills of Household Pesticide. March 2013. 2 pp.
If you use pesticides around your house or yard, you should know how to prevent spills and, in case they do occur, how to clean them up without further exposing yourself, your family, others, or the environment. This leaflet provides tips on preparing for and managing spills of household-use pesticides.
No. 4: Pesticide Emergency and Non-Emergancy Information and Resources. Rev. June 2012. 3 pp.
Pesticide users, consumers, and others have questions about pesticides. This leaflet provides telephone numbers and websites to access knowledgeable sources on these issues.
No. 10: Using Insect Repellents Safely. Rev. June 2012. 6 pp.
Historically, insect repellents have been used against mosquitoes, blackflies, and other annoying pests. Increasing concern about Lyme disease, transmitted by the deer tick, and West Nile Virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, has resulted in a corresponding increase in the use of repellents. This leaflet explains how to use available products in the safest manner.
No. 11: Pesticide Safe Use Checklist. Rev. May 2013. 3 pp.
Pesticides are designed to be toxic to the pests they control, but may also pose potential hazards to humans, especially if not used with proper care. This leaflet provides a checklist of safe practices to be used in conjunction with the label directions anytime you plan to use a pesticide.
No. 13: Disposal of Pesticide Containers. Rev. June 2012. 2 pp.
Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.) are designed to be toxic. Improper disposal of pesticides or their containers can lead to environmental contamination and may incur both civil and criminal penalties. This leaflet explains how to properly prepare empty pesticide containers for disposal.
No. 27: Understanding Pesticides. Rev. May 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet explains what pesticides are and offers a brief discussion of their regulation, risks and benefits, and responsible use.
No. 28: How to Read a Pesticide Label. Rev. June 2013. 9 pp.
The pesticide label is a legal document, and it is a violation of the law to use a pesticide in any manner inconsistent with the label. This leaflet explains how the pesticide label is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information presented on the label.
No. 29: How to Read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Rev. June 2013. 6 pp.
The MSDS provides information about a product's composition, physical and chemical properties and hazards, toxicological information, and first aid procedures. This leaflet explains how the MSDS is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information contained in the MSDS.
No. 37: Section 25(b) Pesticides: Minimum Risk? Rev. July 2012. 4 pp.
In 1996, EPA exempted certain pesticides, considered to pose minimum risk to humans and the environment, from the requirement to be reviewed and registered prior to sale and use, provided the products satisfy certain conditions. This publication explains the conditions associated with minimum risk pesticides, provides links to lists of active and inert ingredients currently accepted for this classification, and discusses the concerns held by many pesticide educators and state regulators.
No. 38: Disposal of Household Pesticide Products. June 2012. 3 pp.
Improper disposal of pesticides or their containers can lead to environmental contamination and may incur both civil and criminal penalties. Even in very small quantities, some pesticides can have a substantial adverse impact on sensitive organisms. This leaflet explains EPA's guidelines for disposal of empty non-microbial, residential/household use pesticide products.
No. 40: Pesticide Regulatory Information Resources on the Internet. Rev. August 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet provides internet resources on the laws dealing with pesticide regulation and associated regulations and policies. Two basic laws, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), define how pesticides may be registered, sold, used, transported, stored, and disposed of in the U.S. Additional laws address specific concerns such as safety of pesticide workers (the Worker Protection Standard), protections for endangered species (the Endangered Species Act), and other issues.
No. 44: Research Results from the Agricultural Health Study. Rev. February 2011. 7 pp.
The Agricultural Health Study is a long-term project examining health outcomes for pesticide applicators and their spouses. This leaflet provides highlights of the study.
No. 45: Protecting Pet Heath when Using Flea & Tick Contol Products. Rev. April 2012. 3 pp.
Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting pets to avoid transmission of disease. However, misuse of these products can result in adverse effects ranging from irritation to serious effects including death of sensitive pets. This leaflet provides general guidelines for the safe use of flea and tick products on pets and outlines the steps being taken by regulators to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for cats and dogs.
No. 46: First Aid for Pesticide Emergencies. May 2013. 3 pp.
Pesticide exposures require immediate care. This leaflet provides basic first aid information that can be used alongside specific instructions on pesticide labels and from health care professionals.
No. 47: How to Handle Spills of Household Pesticide. March 2013. 2 pp.
If you use pesticides around your house or yard, you should know how to prevent spills and, in case they do occur, how to clean them up without further exposing yourself, your family, others, or the environment. This leaflet provides tips on preparing for and managing spills of household-use pesticides.