According to the EPA, a pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. This includes a wide range of chemical and biological agents. Pesticides are most commonly classified according to the type of pest that they are used to deal with.
Pesticides can also be classified according to their origin. For example, most commonly used commercial pesticides are chemical pesticides created through an industrial process, but biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials that have proven to be effective in pest control.
The use of pesticides in the United States is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency according to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as well as various state laws and regulations.
Pesticides are very heavily regulated and labeled carefully to ensure that they are used responsibly and safely. Any commercially available pesticide will list the types of pests it is to be used to control and the locations in which it is approved for use. The only exception is that a pesticide can be used for pests not listed on the product label as long as the site for use is listed. If you have any questions about whether a particular pesticide is safe to use on your property, feel free to give the experts at United Works Termite & Pest Control a call. We will be happy to answer any questions and provide you with information to find a safer alternative, if necessary.