Pesticides can be toxic to pets, non-target species, and other wildlife. Some pesticides contain ingredients listed as probable carcinogens. One driving force behind increased local involvement in IPM is the listing of the Chinook salmon as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Lawn and garden chemicals include some of the most hazardous products used in the home. Pesticides and fertilizers are commonly used lawn and garden chemicals.
Pesticides are agents used to kill pests.
One type of pesticide is insecticides, a chemical used to kill insects. Other types of pesticides are herbicides, used to kill vegetation and, fungicides, used to kill fungal disease. Fertilizers add nutrients to the soil. The top pesticides sold at a leading home improvement store in King County are weed and feed, moss killer, slug killer, Roundup and Dursban. All were found in King County streams at levels exceeding EPA standards.