Pesticide Exposure
Did you know that the majority of your exposure to pesticides occurs indoors, even if you’re just treating the outside of your home? Regardless of whether you DIY your pest control efforts or hire professional pest control services, outdoor and indoor pest remediation can actually let harmful chemicals and VOCs loose in your home’s air.
For a pesticide alternative to pest control, choose an AprilAire dehumidifier and fresh air ventilation system. Pests love warm, humid environments like your basement or crawlspace. An AprilAire dehumidifier and fresh air ventilation system are your excess moisture solutions.
In addition, these two products will also help save you energy and are part of the award-winning suite of applications on our AprilAire Healthy Air SystemTM for effective virus protection.
Reduce Pesticide Exposure Inside the Home:
- Follow Manufacturer Instructions
- Mix or Dilute Chemicals with Water
- Increase Ventilation When Treating Inside
- Control Pests Without Chemicals
- Don’t Store Pesticides in Your Home
- Use Ventilation Regularly
Pesticides—which include insecticides, termiticides, and disinfectants—are known to be widespread inside homes, per recent studies. These chemicals can leak into your home through contaminated soil, pesticide containers (even when not in use), and household surfaces that trap and release pesticides unbeknownst to you. Even when you’re treating pests outside of your home, harmful chemicals and VOCs can still enter your home and have a negative impact on your indoor air.
If exposed to pesticides, you can even experience some side effects. Short-term, you may experience symptoms like headaches, dizziness, muscle weakness, and nausea. But frequent exposure can lead to long-term health concerns, including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, damage to the central nervous system, and even an increased risk of cancer.
Even though you may not be able to control the external factors that can lead to pesticides entering your home, you can take the steps necessary to reduce your exposure to pesticides and pests and breathe Healthy Air again.
Dos & Don'ts
Do
be sure your home is well ventilated
Think of your ventilation system as your home’s own set of lungs. Proper ventilation can reduce the concentration of pollutants in your home by exhaling the bad air and inhaling fresh air back into your home.
Don’t
disobey the manufacturer’s instructions
When using pesticides, it’s essential to follow the instructions set forth by the manufacturer. Doing so can help limit your exposure to these harmful chemicals and protect your indoor air.
Do
open windows and use fans when treating with pesticides
If your home isn’t equipped with a ventilation system yet, you can replicate some of its benefits by opening your windows to replenish your indoor air with fresh air from outside. Doing this can help reduce some of the contaminants lingering in your home’s air. When using pesticides to treat indoor pest problems, be sure to open your windows and use fans during the process to push the chemicals out and reduce the harmful impact on your indoor air.
Don’t
use more pesticides than what’s actually needed
When starting remediation, it’s important to make sure you’re using to right amount of pesticides for the job. Using an overabundance of pesticides can result in side effects that can impact your health long-term. It’s safe to use water to dilute your pesticides. This will not only extend the life of the product but will help limit your exposure to harmful chemicals and VOCs that can release themselves into your air.
Do
ensure you’re protecting yourself
When using pesticides, make sure you’re wearing the necessary protective gear in order to limit your exposure to these chemicals. Wear a mask, gloves, and other skin coverings.
“A study suggests that 80% of most people’s exposure to pesticides occurs indoors and that measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides can be found in the air inside homes.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
While pesticides can help solve our pest problems, they can actually create more problems when it comes to our air quality and health. The effect pesticides have on our indoor air is a direct threat to the air we breathe. So, if you decide to use pesticides, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, ventilate the area, and when possible, use natural pest control remedies.
The information contained on the AprilAire website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any manner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition. All information is for informational and educational purposes only and any use thereof is solely at your own risk.