Spraying the Roses
Let's take a quick look at some of the commonly used insecticides and fungicides available today to the home gardener. The EPA has established the use of Category and Signal words to alert the homeowner that some of these products are dangerous and caution should be exercised when using them.
A rating system called Lethal Dose Oral or LDO alerts the handler to the possible threat of a dangerous material. Sometimes it is listed by the milligram necessary per Kilogram of body weight or an LDO listing for a 150 lb. man.
Here are the Categories with their Signal words:
Category I - Highly Toxic - DANGER - LDO = few drops to tsp.
Category II - Moderately Toxic - WARNING - LDO = tsp. to 1oz.
Category III - Slightly Toxic - CAUTION - LDO = 1 oz. to 1 pt. or lb.
Category IV - Relatively Non-Toxic - CAUTION - LDO = over 1 pt or lb.
Those materials found in the DANGER (highly toxic) category are:
Funginex®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Triforine ®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Orthenex ® Formula III: used for Fungus/Insect Combo control
Vendex ®: used for Spider Mites
Those in the WARNING category are:
Fungi-Guard®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Daconil®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Rubigan®: used for severe Powdery Mildew
Bayleton®: used for severe Powdery Mildew
Orthene® (9.4%EC): used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Cygon®: used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Malathion® 50 Plus (50%EC): used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Diazinon®: used for Chewing, Sucking insects
RoundUp®: used for Weed Control
Those in the CAUTION (III) Category are:Benlate®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Dithane®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Orthene® 75%: used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Mavrik® Aquaflow: used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Avid®: used for Spider Mites
Pentac® Aquaflow: used for Spider Mites
Those in the CAUTION (IV) Category are:
Insecticidal Soap (Safer): used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
The lethal oral doses are the only ones I have listed. There are also dosages for absorbtion through the skin and eyes, lungs and mucous membranes of the mouth.
Pesticides in the category with the signal word DANGER (Skull & Crossbones) POISON in red are acutely toxic in oral, dermal (skin) and inhalation exposures. If the signal word DANGER is used by itself it means that the toxicity rating is based on eye and skin irritation.
If you have any questions about pesticides and want more information, please don't hesitate to contact:
The National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
They have a website and a toll free number: 1-800-858-7378.
They are located in Oregon and funded by the EPA and the Oregon State University. Their hours of operation are 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM PST, 7 days a week. This is not a number to be used for accidental poisoning. Please keep the number of your local Poison Control Board on hand by your telephone or call 911 in case of an accident involving the ingestion or exposure to a pesticide or fungicide.
Please make it a sane and safe growing season...each of us CAN make a difference.
A rating system called Lethal Dose Oral or LDO alerts the handler to the possible threat of a dangerous material. Sometimes it is listed by the milligram necessary per Kilogram of body weight or an LDO listing for a 150 lb. man.
Here are the Categories with their Signal words:
Category I - Highly Toxic - DANGER - LDO = few drops to tsp.
Category II - Moderately Toxic - WARNING - LDO = tsp. to 1oz.
Category III - Slightly Toxic - CAUTION - LDO = 1 oz. to 1 pt. or lb.
Category IV - Relatively Non-Toxic - CAUTION - LDO = over 1 pt or lb.
Those materials found in the DANGER (highly toxic) category are:
Funginex®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Triforine ®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Orthenex ® Formula III: used for Fungus/Insect Combo control
Vendex ®: used for Spider Mites
Those in the WARNING category are:
Fungi-Guard®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Daconil®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Rubigan®: used for severe Powdery Mildew
Bayleton®: used for severe Powdery Mildew
Orthene® (9.4%EC): used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Cygon®: used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Malathion® 50 Plus (50%EC): used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Diazinon®: used for Chewing, Sucking insects
RoundUp®: used for Weed Control
Those in the CAUTION (III) Category are:Benlate®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Dithane®: used for Blackspot, Mildew, Rust
Orthene® 75%: used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Mavrik® Aquaflow: used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
Avid®: used for Spider Mites
Pentac® Aquaflow: used for Spider Mites
Those in the CAUTION (IV) Category are:
Insecticidal Soap (Safer): used for Chewing, Sucking Insects
The lethal oral doses are the only ones I have listed. There are also dosages for absorbtion through the skin and eyes, lungs and mucous membranes of the mouth.
Pesticides in the category with the signal word DANGER (Skull & Crossbones) POISON in red are acutely toxic in oral, dermal (skin) and inhalation exposures. If the signal word DANGER is used by itself it means that the toxicity rating is based on eye and skin irritation.
If you have any questions about pesticides and want more information, please don't hesitate to contact:
The National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
They have a website and a toll free number: 1-800-858-7378.
They are located in Oregon and funded by the EPA and the Oregon State University. Their hours of operation are 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM PST, 7 days a week. This is not a number to be used for accidental poisoning. Please keep the number of your local Poison Control Board on hand by your telephone or call 911 in case of an accident involving the ingestion or exposure to a pesticide or fungicide.
Please make it a sane and safe growing season...each of us CAN make a difference.
