UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- It's That Time Of Year For New Lawn And Gardening Projects And If You're A Homeowner Planning To Use A Pesticide On Your Property, There Are Some Facts You Should Know. Whether You Are Trying To Control Plant Diseases, Insects Or Weeds, Every Pesticide Becomes Less Dangerous When The User Carefully Reads The Label.

"Labels are legal documents that allow the manufacturer to give users information about the product," says Rick Johnson, urban specialist for Penn State's Pesticide Education Program. "It is important to read label information and directions when you select a product, as well as when you mix, store, apply and dispose of pesticides."

The front side of a pesticide label contains several standard pieces of information. The product type is always described below the product's brand name. This indicates what the product is designed to control, such as an herbicide for the control of lawn weeds or an insecticide that kills nematodes. Below this, you likely will find a listing of ingredient names for the active chemicals responsible for pest control and the percentage of each ingredient in the product.

Registration and establishment numbers also should be included, showing the product is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and identifying the production location. Finally, the name and address of the manufacturer also are listed so consumers may contact the company for a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to get more information.

"You should look for certain signal words when you read a label," says Johnson. "These are words that indicate the relative acute toxicity of the product for humans and animals. If two products will control the same problem, signal words can help you choose the least toxic chemical to control the pest." Words like "danger" and "caution" provide specific information when they are listed on a pesticide label:

--Danger PoisonX. Indicates a chemical that is highly toxic should it enter the body through any entryway. "Peligro," the Spanish word for danger, also will appear on the label. "Danger: can cause severe eye damage or skin irritation."

--Warning. Moderately toxic through oral, skin or inhalation contact and will cause moderate eye or skin irritation. "Aviso," the Spanish word for warning, also will be listed.

--Caution. Slightly toxic through oral, skin or inhalation contact and will cause slight eye or skin irritation.

Pesticide labels provide other important safety information, such as the potential hazards to humans, domestic animals and the environment, as well as physical and chemical hazards and the first aid steps that should be taken if someone is accidentally poisoned. In any poisoning event, you should call the National Poison Control Center Hotline at (800) 222-1222.

There are several good reasons to follow the directions. "Not only is it a violation of federal law to use any pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, but using pesticides properly ensures you will get the best results without harming yourself or the environment," Johnson points out.

A label's directions for use tell you the pests and locations for which the product is designed, how to apply the product, how much to use, when to apply and how often to apply the product. There is also information on how soon a crop can be eaten or used after pesticide application and how soon people and animals can safely re-enter an area that has been treated.

To obtain information and fact sheets on using pesticides safely, visit the Penn State Pesticide Education Web site at http://www.pested.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Rick Johnson at 814-865-8080 or by e-mail at rhj3@psu.edu. A printable infographic to illustrate this story is available for downloading at:
http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/may04/PSP2004HowToReadLabelsBW.pdf.
http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/may04/PSP2004WhenToReadLabelsBW.pdf.
http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/may04/PSP2004LabelSignalWordsRBW.pdf.

Contact: Jeff Mulhollem Email jjm29@psu.edu Office 814-863-2719 FAX 814-863-9877