| In response to the ever increasing | | | | available over-the-counter, in concentrate. That means |
| "chemical-consciousness" in Lancaster, PA, I decided to | | | | that anyone had access to a chemical that was active |
| perform more and more of my services from the | | | | in the soil for 25 years at the diluted rate! I have met |
| outside of homes and businesses. "Is this justified?", | | | | people who proudly boasted killing a Carpenter Ant |
| one might ask. Before I answer that question, I'd like to | | | | nest in their backyard tree stump by pouring Chlordane |
| address something that concerns me even more: | | | | concentrate directly on the colony. While this probably |
| homeowner extermination. | | | | doesn't mean anything to the average person, |
| If you don't mind, I'd like to cut to the chase here. Most | | | | someone familiar with the pest control industry is |
| folks are aware the EPA regulates which products | | | | cringing right about now--this means potential ground |
| can be "sprayed", "fogged", or "dusted" inside an | | | | contamination for years, killing anything from beneficial |
| occupied structure. And as one might expect, that | | | | insects to fish in nearby streams! The EPA probably |
| doesn't mean the products are being used according | | | | did the right thing, believing that if they made it |
| to label specifications, so user error can create | | | | restricted use (for commercial use only) a black |
| unnecessary exposure problems. As a professional, I | | | | market would be created since no one could imagine |
| have witnessed much more toxicity issues with people | | | | life without Chlordane, especially for termite problems. I |
| who have pest problems before I ever arrive on the | | | | point here is that toxicity has always been much higher |
| scene. Now, I want to award them for their bravery as | | | | with public usage, even when the products were much |
| they wield cans of empty bug spray, "homeopathic | | | | more dangerous. |
| techniques" such as red pepper, moth balls, chewing | | | | If you are concerned about pesticide exposure, please |
| gum, you name it (and I've seen it!). But I really get | | | | remember that you will most likely need pest control |
| concerned when I see that in their zeal, they have | | | | some time or another, and if you are considering |
| exposed their family to unnecessary levels of | | | | tackling a pest problem yourself, please remember the |
| insecticides or other household products that aren't | | | | dangers to exposure of toxins are much greater when |
| even labled for bugs (or rodents). | | | | you do-it-yourself. Pest control operators do not usually |
| Okay, now that I have gotten that out my system, let's | | | | fall prey to the concept "If a little works good, then a |
| talk about professional pest control. There has been a | | | | lot will work great!" Actually, we know better. Besides, |
| real turn around in the past 15 years in professional | | | | we have to keep in mind chemical costs and keeping |
| pest control that has caused us to be more and more | | | | customers! |
| responsible and more acute with our treatments. An | | | | I started out by asking the question, "Am I justified by |
| example would be what we call IPM (Integrated Pest | | | | treating the perimeter of a home more often than |
| Management). "What's that?", you ask. Don't feel bad, | | | | treating the inside?" I believe that it is more for |
| there is some pest control guys who don't know either. | | | | conscious sake, since pest control technicians suffer |
| IPM is the art of using a combination of techniques to | | | | from two major tragedies: car accidents and ladder |
| eliminate pests without using pesticides exclusively. An | | | | accidents. Believe it or not, chemical toxicity plays very |
| example would be this: Say we have a rat infestation | | | | little problems with pest control personnel. Most of that |
| at a dumpster next to our favorite restaurant. Instead | | | | is due to training in product handling, transportation, and |
| of throwing bait all around the dumpster exterior, IPM | | | | application. But due to market trends, I believe it is best |
| would tell us that we should move the dumpster away | | | | to listen to your customers. Besides, it can't hurt to |
| from the building, exposing the rats to natural | | | | spend more time preventing pests from entering from |
| predators. Then, ask the restaurant owner to have his | | | | the outside of homes and businesses, before they get |
| her employees lock the doors shut on the dumpster | | | | in where they become a problem and health risk. This |
| except for when it is being used (sanitation). Then, and | | | | leads me to my next point: most don't know the |
| only then should a secure rat bait station be used | | | | dangers of not having pest control! While most think of |
| beside the dumpster, and monitored regularly. | | | | pest control as a luxury service, history is full of times |
| In addition to IPM, most of our pesticides are being | | | | that pest control was or could have been the answer. |
| formulated to have virtually no odor and create lower | | | | Let me give some examples: The "Black Death" or |
| risks of exposure. An example would be | | | | Bubonic plague that killed a third of Europe in the late |
| micro-encapsulation, a method whereby the active | | | | 1340s could have been prevented or eliminated by |
| insecticide has a silicone "bubble" around it to reduce | | | | pest control. You see, rats carrying the plague infested |
| break-down from light and moisture. Also, there have | | | | fleas transported them all over, allowing them to jump |
| been some products have been available | | | | off and bite humans. Today, most don't tolerate rats, |
| over-the-counter for pets that are know being used in | | | | and that is due to the pest control industry raising the |
| professional pest control products. I know it does not | | | | standards. |
| make sense, but the public can use a concentrate on | | | | Another example of pest control that actually solved a |
| their dog, but cannot purchase the same active | | | | major problem happened during the construction of the |
| ingredient to be used 100 times weaker on their | | | | Panama Canal. Malaria and Yellow Fever were |
| termites (homeowners do not have the equipment to | | | | transmitted by a heavy mosquito population and killed |
| use the product anyway, so don't get excited). I | | | | many workers. It wasn't until they used mechanical |
| mention this only to prove that the pest control | | | | means (nets, standing water elimination) and the use of |
| products we use are usually safer than most the stuff | | | | insecticides, that they gained control and were able to |
| you have under the kitchen sink. What makes us so | | | | finish the canal. |
| special then? Training. Additionally, we in the pest | | | | With pesticide exposure in mind, please don't risk |
| control industry aren't willing to lose our license over | | | | doing-it-yourself if it means compromising your family's |
| mis-application. | | | | health. Besides, most of us in the pest control industry |
| Let me use an example of a problem with public | | | | have your best interest in mind--keeping the pests out, |
| access to professional pest products: Before the EPA | | | | and keeping you safe! |
| took Chlordane off the market in the 1980's, it was | | | | |