What You Need to Know About Pesticides

Pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, are chemicals designed to kill insects, plants, fungi and other "pests." People can be exposed to pesticides either by absorbing them through the skin, inhaling pesticides in the air, and/or consuming pesticide residues on food. Numerous studies of human exposure to pesticides demonstrate links to a wide variety of acute and chronic health problems, ranging from cancer, birth defects, and reproductive damage to asthma and neurobehavioral problems.

Children may be exposed to pesticides by playing on floors, treated lawns and play areas, or by handling treated pets. For example, several studies have found that the use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos – for indoor flea control and other insects - leads to unsafe exposures to children playing in the house, even when used according to directions (and for several days after use).

For information on lawn care without pesticides, see the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Healthy Lawns website.