on the label in case of poisoning may be incomplete, out-of-date, or even dangerously
wrong. Also, many labels do not indicate how to dispose of a product safely. The use
of the term ‘‘non-toxic’’ is for advertising only. It has no regulatory definition by the
federal government.Store Employees Untrained Regarding Pesticide UseThe majority of homeowners purchase pesticides from home and garden centers
and use these outlets as information for pest management recommendations.^36 A
troublesome finding from a statewide survey in Illinois indicated that only 34 percent
of retail stores surveyed provided any employee training related to pesticide use. Fur-
thermore, of those individuals who received any training, only about one-half stated
that the level of training was adequate. If any training was provided, the focus tended
to be on pesticide selection and use, while the concepts of IPM were largely ignored.
Because many stores hire seasonal employees during the spring and summer months,
there tends to be a high turnover of employees. Regular training programs are impor-
tant to educate new employees in pesticide use.^37Pets and PesticidesMany household pesticides carry warnings on their labels cautioning people to
keep pets away from treated areas. In the case of flea powders and other pet pesti-
cides, to avoid pet illness, warning labels usually state application rates and the mini-
mum age of any pet to be treated. As is the case for warning about human health
hazards, these guidelines cannot assure that your pet will suffer no adverse effects.
Pesticides are known to poison fish and other forms of wildlife when used outdoors;
a similar health hazard exists for aquarium fish and pet birds during and after pesti-
cide application.
In recent years, hundreds if not thousands of pets have been poisoned. Products
containing OPs are among the worst culprits. The EPA finds that these pet pro-
ducts are frequently misused and that manufacturers should anticipate this. Cats are
particularly vulnerable, since they often lack key enzymes for metabolizing or detoxi-
fying OPs. As with children, a cat’s small size and unique behavior—in this case,
grooming—work against them as well, making them particularly vulnerable to OP
poisoning.^38In a Lighter Vein: Reckless EndangermentIn California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has compiled a list
of what might be called ‘‘The Top Ten Pesticide Blunders at Home.’’ It is reminiscent
of the immensely popular television show of yesteryear,Candid Camera, but the im-
portant difference is that no one’s life was jeopardized by Allen Funt’s histrionic
efforts. These illustrations of present-day human foibles could have had disastrous168 | Pesticides