Sad warning on pesticide misuse


No, pesticides are not perfectly safe, especially when not used exactly as prescribed.  Poisons are poisons.  Be careful.  People can die.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 19th, 2007 at 2:55 pm and is filed under Junk science, Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to Sad warning on pesticide misuse

  1. Criminal investigation in Lubbock pesticide death « Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub says:
    July 22, 2007 at 8:00 pm

    [...] investigation in Lubbock pesticide death A Lubbock 2-year-old died from misapplication of a potent industrial insecticide, as I noted earlier. The investigation is [...]

  2. Ed Darrell says:
    July 21, 2007 at 8:36 am

    That’s a perspective missing from the original story. Thanks for providing it.

    And, as one of those whom you probably lump into the category as “enviro-nutburgers,” may I invite you to visit the several Rachel Carson/DDT posts here and lend a perspective, more frequently?

  3. Squamata says:
    July 21, 2007 at 8:17 am

    No one (with IQ above 10) ever said pesticides were completely safe. The LD50 levels vary in almost every case. I have been a Commercial Certified Applicator in the state of Texas since Davey Crockett was wrestling bears, and I have witnessed numerous hazards posed to innocent family members by parents who want to save a dollar on pest control. Before the enviro-nutburgers began attacking pesticidal applications on the grounds of hypothetical threats to environment, they took on chemicals that were sold over the counter to the general public. That I supported! That approach is admirable and I would go one step further and say that virtually all pesticides should be unavailable to the general public. However, the chemicals, like Phostoxin are integral to the livelyhoods of most farmers. To demonize the chemical is a kin to demonizing gun ownership. Yes in the wrong hands phostoxin can be as deadly as a gun, that’s why we have laws restricting possession and distribution of either vitally important utility. The parents were negligent, and not too bright (I believe they may have been illegals), However, the licensed farmer or Certified Applicator that made the product available to this family is the murderer in this tragic case, NOT the chemical.

    The improper use of this chemical killed this precious child. Phostoxin is a restricted use fumigant used to kill rodents in grain warehouses and grain storage containers. I understand from other reports that the family used four pellets when even one pellet would have been too much for an enclosure the size of their modest home. The person who provided the family with Aluminum Phosphate should be locked up for a LONG time.

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