How do I know how toxic a pesticide is?
Pesticides are labelled to help identify their toxicity.
A pesticide container label consists of several panels of information. If all the information will not fit on these container panels then additional information may be found in a separate booklet. There could also be stickers, tags, seals, leaflets, brochures, and wrappers on or attached to a container. It is important that the label be legible at all times. If a label becomes illegible (hard to read), a new label must be obtained from the supplier and affixed (attached) to the container.
NOTE: The term "pesticide" describes a very large and diverse group of chemicals or products. It is very important to always get specific information about the exact product you are using.
For more information, other OSH Answers documents in this series include:
- context Pesticides - First Aid
- context Pesticides - General
- context Pesticides - Health Effects
- context Pesticides - Re-Entry Time
- context Pesticides - Working Safely
What kind of information is found on a pesticide label?
Important information is found on the labels of pest control products, and includes:
Further information may be placed on a secondary panel and would include:
Adapted from: Health Canada (2007) Checklist of Labelling Requirements for Pest Control Products.
- context directions for use
- context disposal and decontamination
- context precautions
- context first aid
- context toxicological information
- context notice to the user
- context storage directions
- context aerial application
- context food residue statement
- context other addresses
What do the symbols and signal words mean?
The symbols and signal words on the pesticide label give you some quick information about the acute toxicity of the product. See Table 2 for the different types of hazard symbols.
Check the label for special warnings about eye hazards and skin hazards.
The front panel of the pesticide label may also contain warnings that tell you the product is corrosive to eyes, or is a skin or eye irritant.
Adapted from: Grower Pesticide Safety Course Manual, Chapter 5 – Pesticide Formulations, Ontario Pesticide Education Program, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus
The labels of pesticides that present multiple hazards must include all hazard symbols, but require only one signal word – the signal word corresponding to the highest degree of hazard.
Adapted from:
Pesticides in Agriculture, Government of British Columbia
Pesticide Safety, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Pesticide Toxicity Hazard and Risk, Government of Alberta
Where can I look up Canadian Pesticide Labels?
To look up individual pesticide labels - Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has an electronic pesticide and label database. The labels of all pesticides registered for use in Canada, their complete text, including the pamphlets attached to the labels, can be found on the Health Canada web site.
Fact sheets and examples of how to read a pesticide label are available from:
Understanding the Pesticide Label - Nova Scotia Environment
Grower Pesticide Safety Course Manual, Chapter 5 – Pesticide Formulations, Ontario Pesticide Education Program, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus.