The cumulative effect of careless pesticide use and disposal from thousands of homes gradually cascades into a stream of environmental problems for aquatic habitat, recreation, and in extreme cases, human health. Second, the indiscriminate use of pesticides rarely provides permanent relief. After the San Diego explosion, news reports described a scene in which cockroaches continued to scurry underfoot as firefighters sifted through the ruins of the apartment. Massive or repeated pesticide applications are futile when consumers ignore the source of their pest problems. But vermin crawl elsewhere if cracks are sealed and kitchens kept clean.
Mosquitoes provide another example.
Eliminating a cup of standing water outdoors kills thousands of larvae before they develop wings and a thirst for blood. These and other practical, non-toxic steps to pest control are part of a strategy gaining widespread favor in California, from farm fields to urban schoolyards. Many IPM tactics are based on common sense and knowledge of individual ecosystems. Recognizing the high demands of public health and sanitation, IPM does not exclude pesticides, but they are used as a last resort. When other, practical alternatives fail to address a specific situation, the emphasis is on less-toxic chemicals, used sparingly.