more "natural" does not mean safer pesticide

[RoyalHillsLLC]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-31-2008/0004859574&EDATE=

I am posting this link due to the tendency of people on this site and others to assume a product marketed as "natural" or "organic" means safer. This is an interesting article that confirms many of my suspicions. Natural pyrethrins are no more safe, and may even be more dangerous, than many of the organophosphates that have been around and extensively tested for years.

This is a quote from the study:

While pyrethroids are generally believed to be less toxic than
organophosphates, the number of reported human health problems, including
severe reactions and even deaths attributed to pesticides containing
pyrethrins and pyrethroids, increased from 261 in 1998 to 1,030 in 2007,
nearly a 300 percent increase. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids accounted for
more incidents than any other class of pesticide over the last five years.
EPA data shows at least 50 deaths attributed to this supposedly safer class
of pesticides since 1992.

While organophosphates have been extensively studied and their impact
on public health thoroughly documented, researchers and scientists are
still unsure of the long-term neurotoxicity of pyrethrins and pyrethroids,
particularly among children and those susceptible to allergies. Even so,
the EPA does not require product warning labels cautioning consumers with
allergies of the dangers associated with pyrethrins and pyrethroids
products. However, the Food and Drug Administration does require warning
labels on shampoos that contain pyrethrins and pyrethroids.

 

[chickenannie]

Thanks for the info. I don't use pyrethrins at all, in fact, I don't buy any form of pesticide for my garden or my birds. It's safer IMO to stay away from all of it and look for natural methods.

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

I think you missed the intent. "Natural methods" usually involve untested ideas that can be more harmful. Pyrethrins come from 100% natural chrysanthemum flowers. Occurring in nature does not mean safer to humans or animals. Pyrethrins are still much safer than home remedies to our pets, if used in an intelligent manner. using home remedies like Vinegar, salt, and DE are not any safer than using properly tested pesticide products. I am just encouraging everyone to use caution and common sense with these home remedies everybody keeps recommending on here. There is usually a good reason home remedies are not sold commercially or have never caught on on a large scale.