Pest Management

 

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Hazards of pesticides

By their very nature, pesticides are dangerous to living beings: people, pets, and wildlife—whether they're sprayed on the food we buy or used in our gardens, parks, and homes where they can poison the air or leach into the groundwater. Even when integrated pest management (IPM) is applied, prevention and non-chemical management techniques aren't always enough to adequately control pests. In such case, pesticides are the last resort.

The active ingredients in pesticides—the chemicals used to control the target pest—must be listed on the label by law. The so-called "inert" ingredients are used as carriers for the active ingredients, to help dissolve them, make them easier to apply, or to preserve them. But just because an ingredient is labeled "inert" doesn't mean it isn't harmful. Inert ingredients include some of the most dangerous substances known, many of which are suspected carcinogens and have been linked to other long-term health problems like central nervous system disorders, liver and kidney damage, and birth defects. They can also cause short-term health effects like eye and skin irritation, nausea, dizziness and respiratory difficulty. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a list of chemicals used as inerts, but the list doesn't indicate which products contain these inerts. And pesticide manufacturers are not required to list all inerts on the product label.

In an effort to expand the use of alternative methods of pest management, SF Environment has compiled a list of resources (below) to educate consumers on the hazards of pesticides and the least toxic alternatives to them that are just as effective—and safer to their health and the environment.

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Safely manage any pest in your building or landscape

Only licensed Pest Control Applicators (PCA) can provide pest management advice.  Instead of calling SF Dept. of Environment (SFE) whose staff are not licensed PCA, check out these handy resources:

 

Cockroaches

 

 

Mosquitoes

 

If your property is in San Francisco, visit SF Dept. of Public Health for detailed information on:

  • What you can do

  • To report standing water or significant mosquito activity, call the West Nile Prevention Program: 415-252-3806

 

Pigeons

 

  • If your property is in San Francisco, visit SF Dept. of Public Health (SFDPH) for detailed information on:

    • What you can do

    • How SFDPH responds to complaints regarding the nesting and roosting of pigeons and restricts the feeding of pigeons to designated areas of the City. Their response includes an investigation of the property in question and requirement for appropriate corrective action by the property owner. These corrective actions may include an order to cease the feeding of pigeons, removal of pigeon droppings and in some cases, installation of pigeon proofing materials to eliminate the nesting and roosting of pigeons.  To Report a Complaint: Contact Norma Castro 415-252-3805.

 

Pesticide Complaints, Licensing, Permits, Pesticide-Related Illnesses, Insect trap services

  • For pesticide spills or retail nurseries suspected of using improper labeling, call: (415) 252-3830

How to Submit County Pesticide Application Reports

Contact SF Dept. of Public Health

Get invited to events on safer pest management

  • Public hearings on Reduced Risk Pesticide List & exemptions to use products not in the List
  • Special trainings, such as using goats for vegetation management or managing turf without herbicides.
  • The semi-annual SF Urban IPM Conference
  • TAC meetings on on how to manage pests

 

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