Least Toxic Pest Control: How Infestations of Termites, Ants, Fleas, Ticks, and Beetles Can Be Controlled Without Causing Short- or Long-Term Indoor Air Quality Changes and Health Risks

摘要

The report is part of the National Network for Environmental Management Studies under the auspices of the Office of Cooperative Environmental Management of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A number of least-toxic measures are discussed within the framework of integrated pest management systems for termites, ants, fleas, ticks, and beetles. It is presumed that adherence to such programs minimizes changes in indoor air quality and also reduces health risks by eliminating use of traditional, often hazardous pesticides. Emphasis is placed on preventative measures such as habitat modification and resource removal to eliminate conditions that encourage the establishment of and foster the growth of pest populations within the home. Control tactics are broadly categorized as chemical, biological, and physical, and are detailed in light of pertinent advances in research. Techniques relate directly to the biology of the organisms and target periods of vulnerability, symbiotic relationships between the pest and other organisms, and basic physiological processes. Boron formulations, insect growth regulators, and the use of extreme temperature seem to have the most widespread applications, although 'neem' products may soon surpass even these advances.