Unsafe Pesticide Applications Lancaster County 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A / Lincoln, NE 68528 More Dangerous (402) 441-7180 / http://lancaster.unl.edu Than Bed Bugs [346] Reprinted from The Nebline, Nov./Dec. 2011

esfenvalerate are also pyrethroids. Barb Ogg Bed bug control often involves UNL Extension Educator the application of pesticides to beds, couches, recliners, and other locations Bed bugs are here. In the U.S., where people spend a lot of time. first reports of increased bed bug When insecticidal products are used infestations began in 1999, primarily improperly, adverse health outcomes in hotels in larger cities in the eastern can result. The National Pesticide U.S. In just a few years, bed bugs Information Center (NCIP) has pored traveled across the U.S. and found over thousands of incidents related their way into the heartland. By 2003, to bed bug control — most of the clients were bringing me bed bugs for following examples come from their identification. The speed of bed bug files. Amisapplication is defined as an movement across the U.S. was quite Barb Ogg, UNL Extension by Photo application inconsistent with label It is best to let pest control amazing and almost certainly related directions. professionals do chemical to human travel. treatments; after all, they are There’s no evidence bed bugs Pesticides Misapplied to trained and licensed to do these transmit any disease, but bed bugs Human Skin treatments safely. They also are important public health pests. • A woman applied pesticides directly have access to professional-use Bites can produce serious allergic to her bed bug bites and hair before products not readily available to reactions, including hives and bed, sleeping with a hairnet. consumers. anaphylaxis. Scratching can result in • A person reported dousing himself, secondary infections. The psycho- his bedding and mattress with an logical consequences of infestations the pyrethroid insecticide has dried. insecticide; he reported red, itchy, include insomnia, anxiety, and stress, These products are intended to be burning skin. and social isolation. The high cost of applied to bed bug hiding places and • A caller applied an insecticide to her control presents a financial burden, not to surfaces coming into contact own skin regularly while treating especially to low-income families. with skin. Exposure to skin can result her home over several months; she In the U.S., most over-the-counter in parasthesia, which is defined as reported muscle twitching. (OTC) products available for use in itchy, tingly, or stinging sensations. • A mother applied insect repellents homes contain pyrethrins and/or People may confuse these sensations to her young children before bed pyrethroids. Studies have shown that with bed bug bites. Repeated applica- for months; the kids had skin and nearly 90 percent of bed bug infesta- tions of pyrethrins or pyrethroids may respiratory problems. tions are resistant to pyrethrin and result in stinging sensations. • A landlord planning to inspect for pyrethroid products. This means these Most pyrethroids can be identified bed bugs sprayed herself heavily with OTC products do not kill bed bugs with a characteristic suffix “-thrin.” insecticides; she reported itchy, red, very well, even if they are used the way For example, permethrin, bifenthrin, burning skin. the label says. Bed bugs are unlikely to and deltamethrin are insecticides in Continued on next page die even after they sit on a surface after the pyrethroid family. Fluvalinate and Know how. Know now.

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.

® Extension’s educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. Application of Cancelled • A person used a total release fogger their “25B list” to make pesticidal Pesticides in Homes and another product to control bed claims, produce a pesticide label bugs in her car without EPA approval, and market • Report of aldrin use in 2008; can- • One couple reported spraying their them without any efficacy or safety celled in 1987 sleeping area (couches) until damp testing. The active ingredients in this • Report of bendiocarb use in 2007; every night before sleeping, and dur- list are considered “safe,” so the EPA cancelled in 1999 ing the night, as needed has relaxed its normal requirements • Report of acephate use in 2009; • A person sprayed an OTC pyrethroid for pesticide safety testing and label indoor uses cancelled in 2001 aerosol to her sheets, slept on them language approvals. To see what active • Report of malathion use in 2010; and developed a rash on her skin. ingredients are on the 25B list, go to indoor uses cancelled in 2006 http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesti- Inappropriate pesticide applica- Other Unfortunate and cides/regtools/25b_list.htm. tions are not just being done by Unsafe Practices Most of the active ingredients on do-it-yourselfers. Earlier this year, a Reports of other unfortunate bed the 25B list are plant-based oils. Many New Jersey pest control company was bugs treatments include: do have some insecticidal activity, but fined $860,000 by treating a home • Apartment tenant tried to self-ex- none of them have a residual effect. with malathion and carbaryl, both terminate bed bugs and sprayed the This means once applied, the activity pesticides not approved for indoor couch with rubbing alcohol while doesn’t last more than a few hours at use. smoking a cigarette and the couch most. These products are “contact” caught on fire insecticides, which means you must Application of Pesticides • A pest control company, attempt- spray the insect directly to kill it. in Ways Inconsistent ing a thermal treatment, used six Because these products, as well with Labeling propane heaters and one of the six as the OTC pyrethroid products have heaters malfunctioned and ignited little residual activity, they are not • A person hired three pest control carpet in a living room. very effective at reducing bed bug companies and applied five types of populations. When people use these pesticides herself, including misap- What About Essential ineffective products, bed bug popula- plications to her ceiling and walls Oils and Other tions continue to increase, resulting • A person sprayed his recliner with Alternative Treatments? in repeated insecticide use and greater insecticides until wet, used the chair exposure and health consequences. with exposed legs, and developed red The EPA allows products Sources: National Pesticide Information Center, bumps on his skin containing active ingredients on Environmental Protection Agency.