I needed to do something about how my cat had a really bad flea
problem, so my mom bought some flea & tick spray at the grocery
store. The bottle said it was deoderizing and created a smooth glossy
coat on the cats hair like shampoo. The bottle wasn't labeled poison,
but it said it killed ticks and fleas. I forgot about persistent
organic pollutants & pesticides when I used it yesterday to give my
animal a few quick sprays. The cat would run away from me when I
sprayed him so I gave up after using it. Then today I checked the
bottle out again, because it seemed to work so well on my cat. His
fur was very nice, and he seemed very happy and playful, at least last
night. Today I can't even find him. And yesterday I got so sick
after using the spray I was having cramps, chest pains, and all sorts
of problems. The bottle didn't say to use any protection. In fact I
didn't realize it was POISON, until I pealed the sticker off the back
of the bottle, where their was a hidden warning for veteranarians
saying it could KILL YOU!. Still it recommended that you spray your
cat up to 30 times, and rub it in really good with your bare hands
into his skin. I got sick again today just holding to bottle. There
was another warning on the bottle about persistent organic pollutants,
saying that you should never flush them down the drain, or dispose of
them anywhere. The only legal way to dispose of the product is to use
ALL OF IT ON YOUR CAT!

Waste water treatment doesn't have good ways of handling many kinds of
poisoness chemicals in the system, and pestides and other hormone
disrupting pollutants run through our system constantly. They persist
in the food supply, as animals eat food that was sprayed with
pesticides, and there are even higher concentrations of the pesticides
in meat, etc. This is causing a global problem, where children are
coming out, retarted, autistic, deformed, and still-born. Adults even
get sick, obese, and crazy from them in their system if they weren't
exposed as children. The only good ways to get rid of them is to give
blood, or exercise because they get stored in our fatty tissue. This
is a real problem, because terrorists can just legally buy pesticides
without prescriptions and dump them into the environment our poor them
down the drain into our drinking water. So instead of trying to bust
queers in bathrooms, maybe you should look for the muslim with a
bottle of Agent Orange in the bathroom. In Vietnam we sprayed the
whole jungle with it, to deforest the area, and killed millions of
people. We still use the chemical to treat our lawns, and people can
just poor the shit down the drain. I'm going to go vomit now, but you
can read this little introductory article from, Ohio State. I can't
imagine how sick my cat is feeling right now.

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PESTICIDE SAFETY

When using pesticides, safety is critical. Always read and follow
pesticide label directions exactly. The label is a legal document.
Using pesticides in ways other than listed on the label may result in
legal action.

Look specifically for the following:

plants that may be treated;
application rates and timing;
application methods;
toxicity level: warning, caution, danger;
precautions to take when applying;
danger to other animals or nearby vegetation;
environmental concerns;
timing relative to harvest;
instructions to physicians when poisoning occurs;
disposal and cleaning of clothing used during application;
disposal and storage of all pesticide chemicals.
Wear protective clothing when applying pesticides. This includes long-
sleeve shirt, long pants, shoes, socks, rubber or neoprene gloves,
protective eye gear and a respirator or dust mask when necessary.

Clothing exposed to pesticides should be washed in detergent and hot
water. Wash protective clothing separately from other laundry. After
doing a load of protective clothing, run the machine through a
complete cycle with soap to rinse out the machine.

Spilled pesticides can be absorbed with kitty litter. If you are
exposed to pesticides during mixing or application, wash immediately
and follow label instructions. Pesticides contacting the eyes, nose or
ears should be rinsed with water. To avoid exposure to pesticides,
apply when there is no wind that will cause pesticide DRIFT.

Use the correct applicator. The label will provide specific
instructions. These applicators include compressed-air sprayers,
trombone sprayers, hose-end sprayers and hand dusters. You must have
separate sprayer equipment for herbicides and insecticides. Herbicide
residues in a sprayer used to apply insecticides or fungicides may
damage plants.

Mix only enough of a pesticide to complete the job. Mixing exposes the
applicator to the most concentrated form of the pesticide. Special
care is required. Carefully measure concentrates with measuring spoons
or cups reserved and labeled for that use only. No chemicals should be
mixed together unless the label says they are specifically
compatible.

If more pesticide is mixed than is needed, it should be applied to
plants that are on the label. Never pour a pesticide down the drain or
storm sewer. Rinse the sprayer with fresh water, applying the rinse
water to plants that are listed on the label. A second and third rinse
are recommended.

Keep records of pesticide applications for reference should problems
arise. This also helps you remember the date of application for the
days before harvest in edible crops.

Pesticides should be stored in their original containers in a locked
cabinet. The storage location should not be exposed to heat or cold.
Liquid pesticides should never freeze.

At this time there is no appropriate method for disposing unused
pesticides. Therefore, purchase only the amount you will use in one
growing season. Your community may have a collection amnesty day. Keep
pesticides in locked storage until a legal collection is available.
Empty containers should be wrapped in several layers of newspaper and
put in the trash.

Information on specific pesticides is also available in EXONET, FARM
CHEMICALS HANDBOOK and Extension bulletins. Complete pesticide labels
are too long to be included on the bottle label. Request the complete
label from your garden center manager.

PESTICIDE TOXICITY

Pesticide toxicity is measured most often by LD50. This is the dose of
a toxic substance required to kill 50%% of a test population of
animals. It is an estimate of toxicity. LD50 is the abbreviation for
"median lethal dose."

The lower the LD50, the more toxic the substance. A high LD50 means
that more of a substance is required to make a toxic dose. Rotenone
has an LD50 of 132. Malathion's LD50 is 1,375, while table salt has an
LD50 of 3,750. From this you can see that rotenone, an "organic"
pesticide, is much more toxic than malathion or salt.

LD50 only indicates the acute toxicity or immediate effect of a
substance. Also of concern are the long-term effects, called chronic
toxicity. This is of much greater concern to applicators handling
chemicals on a daily basis.

PESTICIDE POISONING

Pesticide poisoning occurs from direct contact with the pesticide.
This includes absorption through the skin, mouth, nose and eyes.
Pesticides will soak into clothing and cause prolonged skin contact if
the clothing, including leather or canvas shoes and gloves, are not
removed immediately.

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning include headache, dizziness, dilated
eyes, sweating, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea,
fatigue and weakness. If any of these symptoms appear, immediately
call 911 or the poison control center.