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Investigate your Pest Control Exterminator and Pesticides Warns Child Safety Expert
Hollywood, FL
Thursday, January 19, 2006
"Some pesticides affect humans by causing cancer, central nervous system damage and respiratory illnesses. Others can have toxic effects on human reproductive, endocrine and immunological systems. For many pesticides, we simply don't know what the long-term health effects are", warns Debra Holtzman, JD, MA, an internationally recognized safety and health expert and the author of the award winning new book, The Safe Baby: A Do-it-yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005
In fact, a recent French study finds that prenatal and early childhood exposure to some common insecticides increases the risk of childhood leukemia.
Debra Holtzman suggests following these important steps before hiring a pest control operator and using pesticides.
1. Look for a qualified pest control operator who practices integrated pest management. Integrated Pest management, is an effective strategy for controlling pests, it combines a variety of methods: prevention (such as sanitation and structural repair in around the home), mechanical measures (such as traps and pulling up weeds by hand), biological controls (such as beneficial predators), and other measures based on knowledge of the pests.
2. Ask the pest control company/operator for their state license number.
3. Contact your state licensing agency (usually the Department of Agriculture) to inquire if the company or operator has any history of violations or complaints by consumers. You will need to supply the company's license number to obtain this information.
4. Ask for the service technician's state certification number. Most states require certification.
5. Ask for references...and check them out.
6. Ask to see a current certificate of insurance.
7. Inquire about experience. (What type of insect problems has this person previously treated?)
8. Ask to see the label of any product being used.
9. Be sure to read the product's material safety data sheet: it tells-you the active ingredients in the product and gives precautionary warnings.
10. Request that chemical pesticides be used only a last choice for controlling pests.
Lastly, make sure to check with your child's day care or school; ask what pest control methods they use. Request that they use integrated pest management.
Debra Holtzman is an internationally recognized safety and health expert and award winning author. She has nearly two decades of experience in the safety and health fields. Debra is the safety expert on the Discovery Health Channel" The Safe Baby: A Do-it-yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005) is in bookstores everywhere.
If at all possible, please include a small photo of Debra Holtzman's book or of Debra Holtzman in any article. You can pick one up at her website: http://thesafetyexpert.com
Interviews may be arranged via: E-mail: safebook@aol.com
Telephone: 954-963-7702
http://thesafetyexpert.com
In fact, a recent French study finds that prenatal and early childhood exposure to some common insecticides increases the risk of childhood leukemia.
Debra Holtzman suggests following these important steps before hiring a pest control operator and using pesticides.
1. Look for a qualified pest control operator who practices integrated pest management. Integrated Pest management, is an effective strategy for controlling pests, it combines a variety of methods: prevention (such as sanitation and structural repair in around the home), mechanical measures (such as traps and pulling up weeds by hand), biological controls (such as beneficial predators), and other measures based on knowledge of the pests.
2. Ask the pest control company/operator for their state license number.
3. Contact your state licensing agency (usually the Department of Agriculture) to inquire if the company or operator has any history of violations or complaints by consumers. You will need to supply the company's license number to obtain this information.
4. Ask for the service technician's state certification number. Most states require certification.
5. Ask for references...and check them out.
6. Ask to see a current certificate of insurance.
7. Inquire about experience. (What type of insect problems has this person previously treated?)
8. Ask to see the label of any product being used.
9. Be sure to read the product's material safety data sheet: it tells-you the active ingredients in the product and gives precautionary warnings.
10. Request that chemical pesticides be used only a last choice for controlling pests.
Lastly, make sure to check with your child's day care or school; ask what pest control methods they use. Request that they use integrated pest management.
Debra Holtzman is an internationally recognized safety and health expert and award winning author. She has nearly two decades of experience in the safety and health fields. Debra is the safety expert on the Discovery Health Channel" The Safe Baby: A Do-it-yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005) is in bookstores everywhere.
If at all possible, please include a small photo of Debra Holtzman's book or of Debra Holtzman in any article. You can pick one up at her website: http://thesafetyexpert.com
Interviews may be arranged via: E-mail: safebook@aol.com
Telephone: 954-963-7702
http://thesafetyexpert.com
