Download It is interesting that people tout the use of "non toxic" products like

It’s Not Easy – Being “Green”
Once again – We need to take a little departure from the insect info you can
normally find in this spot. We need to address a really enormous issue –
GREEN. In the past, “Green” meant the Jolly Green Giant, a freshly mown
baseball field, or the possible super powers of that could be gained from green
M&Ms. These days “Green” can mean just about anything- and it does! The
various phases used by industry to indicate that they care about the environment
can be as numerous, as varied and as misleading as you can possibly imagine.
“Organic”, for example, is a labeling term that denotes products produced under
the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The principal
guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance
the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the
farming system into an ecological whole. The Act served to establish uniform
national standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as “organic”
and authorized a new USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to set national
standards for the production, handling, and processing of organically grown
agricultural products.
Products labeled as “100 percent organic” must contain (excluding water and
salt) only organically produced ingredients and processing aids. Products labeled
“organic” must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients
(excluding water and salt). Any remaining product ingredients must consist of
nonagricultural substances approved on the National List including specific nonorganically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in
organic form.
“Natural” denotes a product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and
is only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentally alter the
raw product). The label must explain the use of the term natural (such as - no
added colorings or artificial ingredients; minimally processed.)
More than 40 private organizations and state agencies (certifiers) currently certify
organic food, but their standards for growing and labeling organic food may differ.
Some agencies may permit or prohibit different pesticides or fertilizers in growing
organic food. The language contained in seals, labels, and logos approved by
organic certifiers may differ.
If our government can’t define specific standards for our food, how on earth can
we expect them to do the same with the pest control industry. It is interesting that
there are many people that tout the use of "non-toxic" products, like the tree oils,
when in fact clove, peppermint, and others absolutely do have a toxic level.
Heck, even vinegar has a toxic level! There are thousands of poisonings in the
U.S. every year from excessive exposure to these “natural” materials, which are
nerve toxins. Their level of toxicity may be much lower than many synthetic
pesticides, but they are often over-used because of the perception that “since
they are from a plant they must be okay”. Many of our modern pesticidies are
derived from plants, and as a pesticide, are more strictly labeled, tested and
controlled than these “organic” measures.
Some products are MUCH more toxic by inhalation than they are by ingestion or
skin absorption, so be very careful not to overwhelm a home with these vapors.
The biggest reason essential tree oils are good choices in a "green" program is
because many of them attack a specific enzyme called Octopamine, which is
found in insects but not in vertebrates. Octopamine is a vital component in proper
nerve functions in insects, and when they are exposed to the tree oil it kills them
as their systems shut down. Since people and pets don't have octopamine the
dermal (skin) or oral toxicity is extremely low, but the respiratory toxicity could still
remain high.
The ultimate goal of modern pest management is to have as little negative impact
on the environment, and plants and animals in it, as you possibly can. Our focus
should be on determining what conditions exist that attract a pest to a place,
allow it to enter a structure, and allow it to breed.
Pest management is, of course, not limited to just pesticides. It uses many nonchemical forms of pest management, such as traps, exclusion, sanitation, and
other physical steps to reduce a pest population. Exclusion materials such as
caulking, foam, copper wires, and any other barrier materials are definitely
“Green”. Pruning shears for cutting back branches that touch the house are
green – as you can eliminate insect pathways rather than chemically controlling
them.
The point here is for you, homeowner and consumer, to be aware of what you
are purchasing and not to fall for clever marketing that is wrapped up in a pretty
Green bow. Saving the planet is as much about using your brains as recycling.