Pesticides

Five Things to Understand About Pesticides for Outdoors Use

  1. Many pesticides used outdoors are poisonous to a wide range of insects and do not just eliminate those you are trying to kill or deter. For example, scientists are concerned about the use of pesticides contributing nationwide to the reduction of pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
  2. Organic pesticides are not necessarily safe. Some organic pesticides, such as rotenone and pyrethrin, are just as hazardous as synthetic pesticides.
  3. Many pesticides that are applied on your property are transported, at significant levels, off your property. They may be dispersed via groundwater to streams, rivers, the ocean, and private wells, and via the atmosphere to downwind properties. 
  4. While the federal and state agencies responsible for pesticide regulations do provide oversight on pesticides used outdoors, many pesticides that are currently legal in some states in the U.S. have already been banned in Europe and other countries. Examples are glyphosate, atrazine, neonicotinoids (neonics) and organophosphates.
  5. To help protect our ecosystem, the KCC asks residents to minimize use of outdoor pesticides - zero is best for the health of the environment.  It is best to not use pesticides that are sprayed or spread over a broad area. Personal pesticides (sprayed or applied to your skin or clothing) will contribute less total mass to the ecosystem than spraying or broadcasting.  Spot treatments of herbicides are preferred over broadcasting. 
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