Pesticides can be beneficial tools.
They allow high-quality food and fiber crops to be grown at a lower cost to consumers. Like many other chemicals, though, pesticides can be hazardous if not used safely. Most pesticide accidents happen when users are careless or when they do not know how to handle pesticides safely. The time you spend to learn about the safe use of pesticides is an investment in the health and safety of yourself, your family, and others. This guide deals mainly with pesticides which are highly to moderately toxic when they enter the body through the mouth, lungs, skin, or eyes.