National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Pesticides is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Pesticides
Also called: Fungicides, Herbicides, Rodenticides
Pests live where they are not wanted or cause harm to crops, people or animals. Pesticides can help get rid of them. Though you may think of pesticides as insect killers, they include chemicals to control weeds, rodents, mildew, germs and more. Many household products contain pesticides.
Pesticides can protect your health by killing germs, animals or plants that could hurt you. However, most pesticides can be harmful to people or pets. You might want to try non-chemical methods first. If you do need a pesticide, use it correctly. Be especially careful around children and pets. Disposing of pesticides properly is also important - it can help protect the environment.
Biologically-based pesticides are becoming more popular. They often are safer than traditional pesticides.
Environmental Protection Agency
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Start Here
- Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- What Is a Pesticide?(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Common Pesticide Questions(National Pesticide Information Center) - PDF
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Household Products Database: Pesticides(National Library of Medicine)
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Pesticides(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
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Latest News
- Organic Food No Healthier Than Non-Organic: Study(09/03/2012, Reuters Health)
- Smoking, Pesticides Might Spur Rare 'Sleep-Kicking' Disorder(06/27/2012, HealthDay)
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Treatment
- In Case of Pesticide Poisoning(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Also available in Spanish
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Prevention/Screening
- Pesticide Safety Tips(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Read the Label First(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Read the Label First! Protect Your Garden(Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF
- Read the Label First! Protect Your Household(Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF
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Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers
(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Using Insect Repellents Safely(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
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Specific Conditions
- Antimicrobial Pesticide Products(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Controlling Pests: Lawn and Garden(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: Pesticides(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Pesticide Consumer Alerts(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Pesticide Fact Sheets(National Pesticide Information Center)
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Related Issues
- Assessing Health Risks from Pesticides(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Also available in Spanish
- Consumer Products Treated with Pesticides(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Counterfeit Pesticide Products for Dogs and Cats(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality: Pesticides(U.S. Geological Survey)
- Illegal Pesticide Products(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Also available in Spanish
- Mosquito Control(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Pesticide Spray and Dust Drift(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Pesticides and Food: What You and Your Family Need to Know(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Pesticides in Ground Water(U.S. Geological Survey)
- Play It Safe, Prevent Poisonings, Lock Up Pesticides(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Safe Disposal of Pesticides(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances) - In English and Spanish
- Also available in Spanish
- Safe Storage of Pesticides(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances)
- Signal Words(National Pesticide Information Center) - PDF
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Some Natural Pesticide Alternatives(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
- PDF
- Also available in Spanish
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Tox Town(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Fungicides, Industrial(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Insecticides(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pesticides(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Fungicides, Industrial
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Pesticide Emergency Resources(National Pesticide Information Center)
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Organizations
- Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs
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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- National Pesticide Information Center(Oregon State University, Environmental Protection Agency)
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Children
- Help! It's a Roach!(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Also available in Spanish
- Learn about Chemicals Around Your House(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
- Also available in Spanish
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ToxMystery(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
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Women
- Can I Use Bug Killers and Repellents During Pregnancy?(Nemours Foundation)
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Seniors
- Effective Control of Household Pests(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Also available in Spanish
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Patient Handouts
- Insecticide
- Also available in Spanish
- Pesticides
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
- Chinese - Traditional (繁體中文)
- Spanish (español)
Pesticides - Multiple Languages