Pest problems occur in diverse settings, from
agricultural to commercial and residential.
In Florida, pest control is a year round consideration
and many times a pesticide will be chosen
as part of the management plan for the problem.
If a pesticide will be part of the management
plan, understanding the contents of the pesticide
label is essential for the product’s safe,
effective, and legal use.
I’m Dr. DeBusk and this video will discuss
the pesticide label and its parts.
The pesticide label is a very expensive document.
The information on the pesticide label represents
the research, development and registration
procedures that a pesticide must undergo before
reaching the consumer at the market, frequently
at a cost of millions of dollars to the manufacturer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
requires a manufacturer to submit data from
nearly 150 tests prior to that product's approval
for use, including toxicity, environmental
persistence and many other factors that may
affect how the pesticide will be safely and
effectively used.
The pesticide use information obtained in
this process is referred to as the label or
labeling, two similar words but with different
meanings.
The label is the information printed on or
attached to the pesticide container; it has
several interpretations.
To the manufacturer, the label is the product’s
clearance to sell to applicators of pesticides.
To governmental agencies, including the EPA,
the label is a way to control the distribution,
storage, sale, use and disposal of the product.
To the buyer or user, the label should be
considered as the main source of information
on how to use the product correctly, legally
and safely.
Labeling refers to all the information that
you might receive from the company, their
sales representatives or a local pesticide
dealer about the product.
This information may include brochures, flyers
and other information accompanying the product.
Properly interpreting the pesticide label
is crucial to selecting the most appropriate
pesticide products for use and therefore receiving
maximum benefit from their use.
The length of a pesticide label varies widely,
ranging from one to many pages of very fine
print.
While the label may seem overwhelming at first,
it does not require a great amount of time
to understand the information once the general
format is recognized.
Label content for a single product changes
frequently; applicators of pesticides should
review labels of products they will be using
on a regular basis.
You should read the pesticide label: before
purchasing the pesticide to ensure that it
is the correct one for the job, before mixing
the pesticide to ensure the proper pesticide
concentration, before applying the pesticide
to ensure proper use, and before storing excess
chemical or disposing the empty container.
Information contained on most labels can be
divided into four major categories: safety,
environmental information, product, and use.
The following series of slides will discuss
the contents of these categories and provides
interpretations.
The front panel of every pesticide label must
bear the statement, "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF
CHILDREN."
Poisoning is a major cause of injuries to
children.
According to the American Association of Poison
Control Centers, pesticide exposure incidents
occur in greater frequency to children under
the age of six years than to older children,
teens and adults on an annual basis.
A signal word is displayed in large letters
on the front of the label to indicate approximately
how acutely toxic the pesticide is to humans
by ingestion.
The signal word is based on the entire contents
of the product, not the active ingredient
alone, but takes into account the inert ingredients.
The signal word does not indicate the risk
of delayed or allergic effects.
All highly toxic pesticides that are very
likely to cause acute illness through oral,
dermal, or inhalation exposure have DANGER
as their signal word and will carry the word
POISON printed in red with the skull-and-crossbones
symbol.
Products that have the DANGER signal word
due to skin and eye irritation potential will
not carry the word POISON or the skull-and-crossbones
symbol.
The signal word WARNING signifies moderately
toxic pesticides and CAUTION signifies slightly
toxic or relatively non-toxic pesticides.
NOTE: Applicators holding the Limited Commercial
Landscape Maintenance certificate are allowed
to use only products that carry the signal
word, CAUTION.
The labels for all highly toxic pesticides
(signal word DANGER, Category I) must provide
information to medical professionals should
an exposure occur.
Examples of wording found in this section:
If swallowed: Immediately call a poison control
center or doctor for treatment advice.
If in eyes: Hold eyelids open and flush with
a steady, gentle stream of water for 15 minutes.
Get medical attention.
If on skin, wash skin with soap and water.
Get medical attention.
It is in this section that proper antidotes
and treatment are recommended for medical
personnel treating a victim.
For this reason, the pesticide label should
always be taken to the emergency medical facility
when an exposure occurs.
Products labeled DANGER also bear an 800 telephone
number that physicians may call for further
treatment advice at any time.
Often labels for less toxic pesticides will
also provide first-aid instructions.
The Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals
section of the label includes precautionary
statements indicating specific hazards, routes
of exposure and precautions to be taken to
avoid human and animal injury.
The label will contain statements that indicate
which route of entry (mouth, skin, eyes, and
lungs) that must particularly be protected
and what specific action is needed to take
to avoid acute effects from exposure to the
pesticide.
Examples of such statements seen in this section
include: Causes eye and skin irritation.
Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed
through skin.
Do not get on skin or on clothing.
Avoid breathing vapor or spray mist.
Avoid contact with eyes.
Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause
allergic reactions in some individuals.
Wash thoroughly with soap and water after
handling.
This section often includes the personal protective
equipment to wear as well.
Pesticides that the EPA considers to have
the potential to cause delayed effects must
have label statements warning the user of
that fact.
These statements will indicate whether the
product has been shown to cause problems such
as tumors or reproductive problems in laboratory
animals.
Additional information in this section will
alert users if the product has the potential
to cause allergic effects, such as skin irritation
or asthma.
Sometimes the labeling refers to allergic
effects as “sensitization.”
Most pesticide labels contain specific instructions
concerning the type of clothing that must
be worn during the handling and mixing processes.
This information is usually found following
the statements regarding acute, delayed and
allergic effects.
Some labels may list this information after
the signal word.
Examples of some common statements from pesticide
labels regarding personal protective equipment
include: Chemical-resistant footwear plus
socks; long-sleeved shirt and long pants;
waterproof gloves; protective eyewear and
many other similar statements.
The personal protective equipment listed is
the minimum protection that should be worn
while handling the pesticide.
Sometimes the statements will require different
personal protective equipment for different
pesticide handling activities, usually with
greater safety equipment emphasis on operations
that involve handling concentrated products.
In some cases, reduced personal protective
equipment is allowed when you will be applying
the pesticide in safer situations.
This section of the label explains the nature
of potential hazards and the precautions needed
to prevent injury or damage to non-target
organisms or to the environment.
Some general statements appear on practically
every pesticide label; for example, most pesticide
labels will warn the user not to contaminate
water sources when applying the pesticide,
cleaning application equipment or disposing
of pesticide wastes.
It is also in this section that information
can be found if the product poses a threat
to groundwater.
Instructions will be provided to minimize
such impacts.
Some labels will mention endangered species
concerns in this section.
Warnings of potential toxicity to honeybees
may also be stated in this section.
Examples of environmental hazard statements
include: This product is highly toxic to honeybees;
This product is extremely toxic to fish and
aquatic invertebrates; and Do not apply where
runoff is likely to occur.
EPA is required to classify pesticides for
either general use or restricted use.
In classifying a pesticide, EPA considers:
the toxicity of the pesticide; the way in
which the pesticide will be used; and the
effect of the pesticide on the environment.
When a pesticide is classified as restricted,
the label will state "Restricted Use Pesticide"
at the top of the front panel.
Below this heading may be a reason for the
restriction.
Although there is a federal list of restricted
active ingredients determined by EPA, some
states have their own lists of restricted
products.
Florida follows the federal guidelines for
determining if a product is restricted.
To purchase and apply restricted use pesticides,
a person must be certified and licensed in
the state of Florida.
A general use pesticide is defined as one
that will not harm the applicator or the environment
to an unreasonable degree when used according
to label directions.
General use pesticides are available to the
general public for use according to label
directions.
Applicators in Florida who perform structural
pest and mosquito control are required to
be certified and licensed regardless of pesticide
classification.
In other cases, such as persons applying herbicides
for aquatic and rights-of-way weed management,
they may be required by their employer to
be certified and licensed to apply any pesticide.
Each manufacturer has a brand name for each
of its products.
Different manufacturers may use different
brand names for the same pesticide active
ingredient.
For example, Ornamec and Fusilade are trade
names for the same herbicide active ingredient,
fluazifop-P. However, it is not legal to use
different brand-name pesticides interchangeably
even if they contain the same active ingredient.
Ornamec is the product approved for use on
ornamentals, whereas Fusilade is approved
for use in crops.
Each product label will state specifically
the sites to which it may be applied.
The brand name is shown plainly on the front
panel of the label.
This statement, normally on the front panel
of the label, identifies the name and percentage
by weight of each active ingredient.
Identified by chemical or common name, the
active ingredients are the components of the
product that affect the target pest.
The chemical name is often complex.
For example, the chemical name for pendimethalin
is N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitrobenzeneamine.
To aid communication, EPA-approved common
names may be substituted for chemical names
- in this case, pendimethalin.
Usually following the list of ingredients,
the amount of active ingredient is expressed
as a percentage by weight for both liquid
and dry formulations of pesticides.
For liquid pesticides, the number of pounds
per gallon of active ingredient will be given
in this section as well.
Inert ingredients allow active ingredients
to be formulated into many different products,
and make the product safer, more effective,
and easier to handle.
As part of the formulation, they also determine
a product’s handling properties.
Inert ingredients that are not considered
to be toxic need not be named on the label,
but the label must show what percentage of
the total contents they make up.
The front panel of the pesticide label states
how much is in the container.
This can be expressed as pounds or ounces
for dry formulations and as gallons, quarts,
pints or fluid ounces for liquids.
This number identifies a specific product
and signifies that the product has met federal
registration requirements through all of the
testing phases.
This number must have a minimum of two sets
of digits.
For example, EPA registration number 100-497
is interpreted that “100" indicates the
manufacturer, and the “497" is the specific
number issued to identify the product by the
EPA.
Sometimes there will be a third set of numbers
present.
This set identifies the distributor.
Some states will require that some registration
numbers carry a set of letters in this code
as well.
The EPA establishment number identifies the
facility that formulated the product.
In the event of questions or concerns regarding
a product, the facility that made the pesticide
can be determined.
Although not common, quality control problems
have been tracked to the facility that formulated
the product when problems with a specific
product were identified.
The law requires the maker or distributor
of a product to put the company name and address
on the label.
This enables consumers to know who made or
sold the product.
In many cases, the manufacturer will also
list a telephone number and/or web address
where users of the product may seek technical
advice.
The front panel of some pesticide labels will
describe the product formulation.
The formulation name may be either spelled
out or designated by an abbreviation, such
as G for granular materials, WP for wettable
powders, D for dusts, or DF for dry flowables,
also known as dispersible granules.
There are other formulations, but these are
some of the more common ones.
This information is helpful for practical
purposes because it provides insight about
the type of application equipment that will
be needed and the product’s handling properties.
However, the labels for some ornamental pesticides
do not clearly state the formulation.
For more information, you will need to contact
the manufacturer.
The physical and chemical hazards section
will tell of special fire, explosion or chemical
hazards the product may pose.
For example, it will alert you if the product
is so flammable that you need to be especially
careful to keep it away from heat or open
flame or if it is so corrosive that it must
be stored in a corrosion-resistant container.
This section is not always found in the same
location within the labeling.
Some labeling will identify physical and chemical
hazards in a designated box while other labeling
may list them on the front panel beneath the
signal word.
Others may list hazards under headings such
as "Note" or "Important."
Examples include wording such as: "Do not
use or store near heat or open flame.“
Some products will include statements concerning
the diluted product such as: "Spray solutions
of this product should be mixed, stored and
applied using only stainless steel, aluminum,
fiberglass, plastic or plastic-lined steel
containers.“
Many other hazards may be found in this section.
This statement conveys the manufacturer's
assurance that the product conforms to the
chemical description on the label and that
it is fit for label purposes if used according
to directions under normal conditions.
The warranty does not extend to any use of
the product contrary to label instructions,
nor does it apply under abnormal conditions
such as drought, tornadoes, hurricanes or
excessive rainfall.
Applicators who violate label instructions
assume all liability associated with the product.
This section usually makes up the bulk of
a pesticide label and begins with the wording:
"It is a violation of federal law to use this
product in any manner inconsistent with its
labeling."
Products intended for use in agriculture will
have an Agricultural Use Requirements box
included in this section.
It will contain the statement: "Use this product
only in accordance with its labeling and with
the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR part
170."
The purpose is to inform those handling the
product that the Worker Protection Standard
applies to the product.
When the Worker Protection Standard applies,
a statement regarding information on employee
notification of restricted entry intervals
and applications, proper training, decontamination,
emergency assistance and personal protective
equipment is stated.
The Worker Protection Standard does not apply
to applications made to ornamental plant beds.
The directions for use section will contain
information such as: sites, objects, animals,
plants or areas where the product may be applied
and the amount of product to use.
This may be expressed as an amount per unit
area, such as per acre or per 1,000 square
feet.
It may also be listed as an amount to mix
per unit volume of water; a description of
how the product should be applied and by which
type of application equipment it is most effectively
applied; and the timing and frequency of application.
For example, a label may state specifically
time intervals between applications, such
as “allow 10 or more days between applications.”
Limitations on reentry to treated areas will
be given in specific terms.
The reentry intervals may be very specific
and given in terms of hours or days or they
will simply state “do not enter or allow
others to enter the treated area until sprays
have dried.”
The pests that the product controls will be
stated in this section.
The user assumes all risks for applying the
product for control of a pest that is not
listed on any given product’s label.
There may be any number of miscellaneous limitations
associated with the product listed in this
section.
Most, if not all, pesticide labels will contain
a general statement in this section to the
effect "do not contaminate water, food, or
feed by storage, disposal, or cleaning of
equipment" and "store in original containers
only."
Label information about storage generally
includes temperature requirements.
In many cases, minimum and maximum storage
temperatures will be provided in specific
terms.
Some pesticides become ineffective if not
stored under suitable temperatures; other
pesticide labels may indicate that if freezing
occurs and crystals form, then the product
may be reused if it is warmed up.
Moisture is a critical concern with dry pesticides,
including granular materials and wettable
powders, which have a strong affinity for
water.
When this is the case, the label may have
the statement, "store in a dry place."
Labels include information on disposal of
pesticide containers as well as excess quantities
of diluted pesticide mixtures.
The label will inform users that leftover
mixtures that can't be applied to a labeled
site may be disposed of in an approved waste
disposal facility that is in accordance with
appropriate federal, state and local procedures.
With disposal of liquid pesticide containers,
the triple-rinse procedure will be stated
in this section of the label and options such
as recycling or disposal of punctured containers
in a sanitary landfill will be given.
Manufacturers of returnable and refillable
containers will remind the user to return
the containers promptly and intact to the
point of purchase.
The label will state that bags containing
dry pesticide products should be emptied thoroughly
into the application equipment and incinerated
or discarded into a sanitary landfill.
Although burning of pesticide containers is
legal in Florida, some counties and municipalities
have enacted ordinances which prohibit such
activities.
Applicators should consult their local authorities
to determine burning regulations.
In summary, the label is a legal document
and if it is not followed there can be civil
and criminal penalties.
Due to that, you need to read the full label
before use, understand the directions for
use and the precautions required.
Negligence is not an excuse.
The label is the law!
