Just as antibiotics protect humans from undesirable bacteria and germs, pesticides keep dangerous and damaging pests in check," according to Allen James, executive director of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)Ò . And, the similarity doesn't end there, he adds. "Pesticide products, that rid homes, schools, parks and workplaces of unwanted insects, plant diseases and weeds, are as extensively tested for health, safety and consumer benefits as are antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals."
Many years and dollars are invested in pest product development. The pesticide label, with its consumer instructions, is the proof that all products can be used effectively and safely. Every pesticide must successfully complete as many as 120 government-mandated tests before the Environmental Protection Agency considers label approval and product registration. Many of these tests are specific for human health, safety and environmental quality.
The entire development and testing process takes eight to 10 years at a manufacturer's cost of $35 million to $50 million or more per product. Yet, on average, James says, only one in 20,000 potential products ever makes it to the marketplace.
"It's a complex, demanding process based on sound science principles with consumer safety uppermost," James points out. "The system of scientific and regulatory checks and balances assures that strict safeguards are built into every pesticide, when used according to label instructions."
"And the process is becoming even more stringent, James says. The 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) sets a single health standard for all pesticides, agricultural and specialty, and takes into account any potential occurrence in food and drinking water. The act also provides additional protection for infants and children, and expedites registration of newer products.
Yet some "naysayers" continue to target pesticide products as a risk to consumers, James says, as he notes that "no pesticides are known to have caused harm to humans when applied according to those all-important label instructions." This is where the analogy to pharmaceuticals again can be made, he says. Any risk is in misuse of the products and failure to follow directions.
Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General has said, "The risk of being killed by an automobile (one in 6,000) is much greater than any hypothetical risk of a pesticide."
Many other authorities have voiced the same confidence in pesticide use. Dr. Roberta Cook, University of California-Davis stresses that scientific surveys repeatedly show that pesticide residues in foods are 100 to 1,000 times lower than levels considered safe by the World Health Organization. Dr. Jerome Goddard, clinical assistant professor for preventative medicine, University of Mississippi Medical School notes: "The benefits of judicious use of pesticides far outweigh any risks and help slow down the threat [of disease-carrying vermin and pests] to public health. Consumers do not need to fear being around pesticides when products are used according to the label."
RISE, and the industry it represents, continue to work with government regulatory agencies to assure the data needed for consumer safety and label accuracy. "We have a commitment not only to provide consumers with effective protection from pest infestations, but also to assure consumers that the benefits of such products continue to far outweigh any potential risk.