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Choosing Options
In an IPM program, monitoring, inspection, exclusion and sanitation are the first line of defense, with chemical controls as a last resort. When these fail to manage pests adequately, how can you identify pesticides with the least risk? Minimizing risk should be a primary consideration, along with effectiveness, convenience and cost.
Risk depends upon hazard (toxicity) and exposure. A measure of hazard to humans and other mammals is provided by signal words on pesticide labels. The most toxic are labeled DANGER, followed by WARNING. The least toxic are labeled CAUTION. Other potential hazards include carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) or reproductive or developmental toxins. These criteria are not identified on pesticide labels. Risk occurs when humans, wildlife or other non-target organisms are exposed, or come into contact with, hazardous substances.
The following basic criteria are designed to help you choose pest control options with lesser risks. Any system that attempts to rank risks and direct use towards lesser risk alternatives will be less than perfect. Using the system presented here leaves important concerns unanswered. For example, is using a large quantity of a pesticide defined as “least-risk” better than using a smaller amount of a “moderate-risk” material? This system does not fully evaluate the inert ingredients in pesticides due to the difficulty in obtaining that information. Finally, reducing risk is ultimately the responsibility of everyone involved in the selection, purchase, transportation, storage and use of all pest control options in a legal and responsible manner, following all label directions.
IPM STAR options are least-risk options to use to manage pests and include the following choices. Note that least-risk pesticides
should be used only after a pest problem has been accurately diagnosed and as a last resort, when non-chemical options are not effective
1. Biological, cultural, mechanical or physical controls pest control options with no potential physical hazards; or
2. Pesticides with very low mammalian toxicity via oral, inhalation or dermal routes, no eye effects, mild or slight skin effects (= EPA Toxicity Category IV); or
3. EPA Toxicity Category III pesticides in ready-to-use, non-volatile formulations used in areas inaccessible to children and the general public; or
4. EPA Toxicity Category III rodenticides in bait-block, non-volatile formulations placed in tamper-proof bait stations in areas inaccessible to children and the general public; or
5. Pesticides exempt from registration by the US EPA (under 40 CFR 152.25).
6. Any product should be
effective for the use indicated on the product label, if applied
according to the instructions provided.
7. Options not qualifying as
"high risk" as defined below.
Moderate-risk options carry greater risk. These are pesticides rated low mammalian toxicity by US EPA (Toxicity Category III, “Caution” signal word) and not meeting the criteria for least-risk.
Work towards finding alternatives to these pesticides.
High-risk pest options should not be used. These include pesticides with high or moderate toxicity (= EPA Toxicity Category I or II, “Danger” or “Warning” signal words);
those containing ingredients included on US EPA's List 1: Inerts of
Toxicological Concern; those identified as known, likely or probable carcinogens by US EPA or the state of California; those identified as reproductive or developmental toxins by the state of California (Proposition 65 list);
cholinesterase inhibitors (nerve toxins); or those on the state of
Illinois EPA List of Known Endocrine Disrupters. Other high-risk
options are those products or uses presenting a physical hazard, such as
dusts and powders that may be inhaled, or snap traps placed in an area
accessible to children. Pesticides used outdoors should not be known groundwater contaminants (as designated by the state of California).
Finally, pesticides with label precautionary statements including
"toxic" or "extremely toxic" to bees, birds, fish or
wildlife; specific warnings regarding ground or surface water
contamination; or known harmful to beneficials should not be used in
environments where those hazards are present. This last restriction
may not apply to pesticides used per label instructions to control bird,
fish, wildlife or stinging insect pests.
Please note: Many pesticides contain more than one active ingredient. Also, different formulations of the same pesticide can have different levels of risk; a ready-to-use liquid is less risky to store and handle than a concentrated dust or powder. The way a pesticide is used also affects the level of risk by impacting the potential for exposure. For example, a crack and crevice treatment inaccessible to children or rodent poison in a tamper-proof bait station is less
hazardous than a spray applied to exposed surfaces.
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