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April 2008


Effective Control 

of Household Pests 

Information for Older Adults and 

Their Caregivers 

Responsible 

pesticide use is an 

important issue across 

generations. 

Older adults may 

be more susceptible 

to the effects of 

exposure to 

pesticides because 

of age-related 

changes in how 

the body processes 

chemicals. 

Using an integrated 

pest management 

system can help you 

avoid unnecessary use 

of pesticides. 

Did you know that 

eight out of ten U.S. 

households use pesticides both indoors 

and outside their homes?1 

Examples of pesticides in 

common use include cockroach sprays and baits, termite 

control products, rat poison, 

flea and tick sprays and powders, weed killers, bug sprays, 

and kitchen and bath disinfectants. 

Environmental 

Hazards 

of Pesticides 

Exposure to high levels of pesticides, usually due to improper 

application of a product, may 

lead to acute effects such as 

headaches, dizziness, muscle 

twitching, weakness, and 

nausea. Long-term and/or 

excessive exposure to some 

pesticides has been linked to 

cancer, reproductive effects, 

and effects on the central nervous system. 

Preventing Exposure 

Grandparents can play an 

important role in keeping children safe by placing hazardous pesticides out of reach. 

Emergency room surveys 

suggest that children under 

age six are more likely to 

be poisoned while visiting 

grandparents where poisons 

are more likely to be in reach 

and without child-resistant 

closures than when in their 

own homes. In addition, while 

older adults account for only 

2.8% of reported poisoning 

incidents, they account for 

5.9% of all cases with a moderate to major medical outcome and 28% of deaths.2 

If you or a family 

member shows 

symptoms of having 

been poisoned, 

call the National Poison 

Control Center at 

1-800-222-1222 

Footnotes: 

1 U.S.EPA,NationalHouseholdPesticideUsageStudy,1992, 

OfficeofPesticidePrograms 

2 NationalPoisonControlCenterData,1993-1998 
What You Can Do to Control 

and Reduce Exposure 

to Pesticide Hazards 

Tips for home pesticide use: 

n Read the label. The pesticide label is 

your best guide for safe and effective use 

of pesticides. If you have impaired vision, 

ask for assistance. 

n Store pesticides only in their original 

containers. Never use an empty pesticide 

container for another purpose. 

n Use a community disposal program in 

your neighborhood. Check with your 

local solid waste management authority, 

environmental agency, or health department to find out if your community has 

a hazardous waste disposal program. If 

not, carefully follow the disposal instructions on the label. 

n Never use outdoor-pesticides indoors. 

n Keep people and pets away from areas 

where pesticide sprays and foggers are 

applied. Read the label to determine 

when it is safe for people or pets to 

re-enter the area. 

n Avoid spraying where you prepare or 

store food, and avoid treating entire 

floors, walls or ceilings. 

n Limit pesticide applications to infested 

areas and use only the amount recommended on the product label. 

n Avoid applying pesticides outdoors on 

a windy day. Before spraying close the 

doors and windows of your home. 

n After applying a pesticide, wash any 

parts of your body or clothes that might 

have come in contact with the pesticide. 

Use Integrated Pest 

Management (IPM) — 

Avoid Unnecessary Use 

of Pesticides 

The US EPA recommends using 

an overall pest management strategy, often called “integrated pest 

management (IPM)” for control 

of pests in homes or apartment 

buildings. IPM is a pest management system that combines nonchemical control strategies with 

less toxic pesticide use minimizing 

risk to human health and the 

environment. 

For example, you might use traps, 

baits and gels instead of sprays 

to control pests. IPM minimizes 

health risks for susceptible populations, such as older adults. 

Learn More About EPA’s 

Aging Initiative 

EPA’s Aging Initiative is working to 

protect older adults from environmental health risks through the 

coordination of research, prevention strategies and public education. Visit www.epa.gov/aging. 

For more information on 

pesticides, call 703-305-5017 

or visit our web site at 

www.epa.gov/pesticides. 

Publication Number EPA-100-F-04-009