On any pesticide label there can be the words Danger, Warning, Caution, or no signal word at all. Which word appears on the label depends on the level of toxicity.

DANGER: The product is in the high toxicity category by at least one mode of entry: ingested, inhaled, absorbed through skin, or corrosive to skin or eyes. If this is the case, then Poison must also be listed on the label in red letters.

WARNING: The product is in the moderate toxicity category if eaten, inhaled, absorbed through skin, or moderately corrosive to skin or eyes.

CAUTION: The product is in the low toxicity category if eaten, inhaled, absorbed through skin, or slightly corrosive to skin or eyes.

NONE: The only pesticides that do not require a signal word are those that fall into the lowest category of toxicity for all modes of entry. Then a signal word of Caution is optional.

This information is from the National Pesticide Informational Center factsheet. For more information, read the entire factsheet at http://www.npic.orst.edu/factsheets/signalwords.pdf

Related Posts

Closeup of two bees, which are very important pollinators.

Protecting Pollinators: Following the Bee Advisory Box on Labels

Have you ever noticed on some insecticide labels there is a box with a picture of a honeybee that talks about protection of pollinators? Several years ago, bees started mysteriously disappearing...

Read More

Tick Awareness Week is May 5-11

Ticks: The Nation’s Deadliest Arthropod

When asked to imagine deadly animals, it is easy to conjure images of large predators and sharp teeth. But the deadliest animals are actually much smaller. Vector pests, such as mosquitoes and...

Read More

Innovation in Waste Management: FedEx Print On Demand

A Leap Towards Sustainability In our continuous journey of environmental leadership, we're proud to spotlight a step forward in waste management—our collaboration with FedEx Print On Demand. This...

Read More

chevron-right