What is a pesticide?

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PESTICIDES

California Department of

Pesticide Regulation

1001 I Street

P.O. Box 4015

Sacramento, CA 95812-4015

916-445-4300

www.cdpr.ca.gov

BRANCHES

Enforcement

916-324-4100

Northern Regional Ofﬁ ce

916-376-8960

Central Regional Ofﬁ ce

559-297-3511

Southern Regional Ofﬁ ce

714-279-7690

Environmental Monitoring

916-445-4233

916-324-4039

Fiscal Operations

916-324-1350

Human Health Assessment

Information Technology

916-445-2992

Personnel

916-322-4553

Pest Management

and Licensing

916-445-3914

Licensing and Certiﬁ cation

Ofﬁ ce

916-445-4038

Pesticide Registration

916-445-4400

Worker Health and Safety

916-445-4222

What is a pesticide?

Pesticides are unique among toxic

substances. Most environmental toxins

are an unwanted by-product of another

process (for example, outflow from a

manufacturing plant or emissions from

an automobile engine). Pesticides are

chemicals designed to be harmful to a

target pest and purposely introduced

into the environment to do their job

of managing insects, bacteria, weeds,

rodents, or other pests.

Farmers use pesticides to control the pests

that can destroy or damage food and other

crops. Health agencies use pesticides to

combat insects and other

organisms known to

carry disease (like

West Nile virus).

Hospitals use

disinfecting

pesticides

to destroy

viruses

and other

“germs” on

floors and

equipment.

Many of us

use pesticides

to control pests

in our homes

and gardens.

Because most

pesticides are

designed to be

toxic to their target pest

—and because any substance can be

harmful if used improperly —pesticide

use is strictly controlled. The Department

of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) protects

human health and the environment by

regulating pesticide sales and use and by

fostering reduced-risk pest management.

Pesticides must be registered with both

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

and DPR before they can be sold or used in

California. DPR will not allow any pesticide

to be registered unless it determines it

can be used safely. DPR’s strict oversight

also includes environmental monitoring,

residue testing of fresh produce, licensing

of pesticide professionals, strict rules to

protect workers and consumers, and local

use enforcement administered by the

county agricultural commissioners.

While pesticides can be useful, they

can also harm people, animals or the

environment

if misused

or used

indiscriminately.

That is why the

most desirable

pest control is to

prevent pests in

the first place. If

that doesn’t work

and you choose to

use pesticides, use

the least-toxic product

available and make

sure to follow the label

directions carefully.

What is a

pesticide?

People often think

pesticide means

insecticide. Pesticide refers to

not only insecticides but many other kinds

of chemicals. Under state and federal law,

a pesticide is any substance intended to

control, destroy, repel, or attract a pest.

California also regulates adjuvants as

pesticides. This class of chemicals is

exempt from federal licensing but must

be registered in California. Adjuvants

are emulsifiers, spreaders, and other

compounds added to improve the

effectiveness of a pesticide.

What is a pest?

Any living organism that causes

damage or economic loss or transmits

or produces disease may be the target

pest. Pests can be animals (like insects

or mice), unwanted plants (weeds), or

microorganisms (like plant diseases,

bacteria and viruses).

Do household products contain

pesticides?

Many household products are pesticides,

including cockroach sprays, mosquito

repellents, rat baits, kitchen and bath

disinfectants, products that kill mold and

mildew and many lawn-and-garden and

swimming pool chemicals.

What about pest control devices?

State law requires specific types of pest

control devices to be registered by DPR.

The devices that require registration

are those that control wood-destroying

insects including termites, carpenter

ants and powder post beetles. Devices

are defined as “any method, instrument,

or contrivance intended to be used to

prevent, eliminate, destroy, repel, attract,

or mitigate any wood-destroying pest.”

Exempt from registration are devices

that claim to control wood-decaying

fungi, general household pests such as

cockroaches, and vertebrate pests such

as rats and mice.

Pesticides, equipment used to apply

pesticides, and firearms are not

considered devices.

Are consumer products treated

with pesticides regulated?

Many products, ranging from

toothbrushes to children’s toys, are

treated with antimicrobial pesticides to

get rid of bacteria. The pesticides are

usually added to the product during

manufacture (for example, plastic shower

curtains), but may be added afterwards

(for example, mixing a mold-preventing

pesticide into paint).

If a treated product makes public health

claims—that is, it claims to “fight germs,”

or “control fungus”—the article must be

registered as a pesticide. If no public

health claims are made, the product is

e

xempt from federal or state regulation.

In either instance, the product label must

make clear that the benefits of pesticide

treatment do not extend bey

ond the

article itself. Products like sponges

or cutting boards, used in the kitchen

or other areas where disease-causing

organisms may be present, can give

the false impression that the treated

article provides extended protection

against food-borne and disease-causing

bacteria. Therefore, the law requires

that the label make clear the treatment

is to protect the article, not to prevent

infection of people or animals with

bacteria or other microbes.

What substances are not

regulated as pesticides?

California’s definition of pesticides is

broad, but does have some exclusions:

• Over-the-counter and prescription

treatments for head lice, which are

regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration.

•

Cosmetics and similar products

(including antibacterial soaps and

lotions, and antifungal creams)

intended to be applied to the human

body.

•

Fertilizers, nutrients and other

substances used to promote plant

survival and health.

•

Biological control agents, except for

certain microorganisms. (Biological

control agents include beneficial

predators such as birds or ladybugs

that eat insect pests.)

•

Certain products which contain low-

risk ingredients, such as garlic and

cedar. (California exemptions differ

from those at the federal level. For

more informaiton, go to

click on “A-Z Index,” then,

“Section 25b - Exempted pesticide

products.”)

www.cdpr.

ca.gov,

Want more information?

Go to DPR’s Web site,

www.cdpr.ca.gov.

Some common

pesticides include

- Insecticides

- Herbicides

- Rodenticides

- Repellents

- Disinfectants

- Fungicides

- Wood preservatives

- Pheromones

- Attractants

- Plant growth regulators

Single copies of this

handout are available

by calling your

County Agricultural Com-

missioner’s oce,

from DPR at

916-445-3974,

or can be downloaded

from DPR’s Web site,

www.cdpr.ca.gov,

“Consumer Fact Sheets.”

DPR: A Department of the California Environmental Protection Agency

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