Pesticides are widely used in our homes and gardens, from sprays for ornamental plants that are toxic to birds and bees. Don’t assume these products are safe simply because they are for sale.
Neonicotinoids—now the most widely used insecticides—are found in hundreds of products including insect sprays, seed treatments, soil drenches, tree injections, and veterinary ointments to control fleas in dogs and cats. Shockingly, concentrations of insecticides sold for residential use on ornamental plants contain as much as 30 times the chemical load allowed in the agricultural sector.
These chemicals have the potential to affect entire food chains. They are persistent in the environment, infiltrate groundwater, and have cumulative and largely irreversible effects on the invertebrates that form the basis of the ecological food chain. The elevated levels of these chemicals in many surface waters are already high enough to kill the aquatic invertebrate life on which so many birds, bats, and other pollinators depend.
Unfortunately, even many who think they are neonic-free may be unknowingly using these products in their gardens. Thanks to heavy pressure from consumers and a consortium of organizations, retailers including Lowe’s and Home Depot are now taking steps to label plants treated with neonics and ultimately to remove these chemicals from their plant production altogether.
Before you purchase any product that claims to kill insects, including flea and tick treatments for your dogs and cats, read the product label! Look for products that DON’T contain any neonics. Here’s an easy-to-use list of products containing neonics.