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 this extra 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.
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:
What kind of information is found on a pesticide label?Important information is found on the labels of pest control products, and includes:
Table 1
Pesticide Label Information |
| Description |
| Trade or Product Name | The name may include a distinctive brand or trademark which will usually be prominently displayed. |
| Classification | All pest control products are classified for intended use and by toxicity into one of four pesticide classes (domestic, commercial, manufacturing or restricted). The class is based on where the product will most often be used and how hazardous the product is to the user and the environment. It is also an indication of the care that should be taken when using, storing and transporting the pesticide. |
| Pesticide Type | This is a description of the intended purpose of the product. Some of the most commonly used pesticides include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. |
| Active Ingredient(s) and Guarantee of Concentration | Each active ingredient is identified by its established common name and the concentration in the formulation (% by weight or by volume). |
| Type of Formulation | Is a description of the physical form of the product such as dust, liquid, wettable powder, etc. |
| Pest Control Product Registration Number | For example REGISTRATION NO. 00000 PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS ACT. |
| Registrant's Name and Address | Name and address, and sometimes a telephone number. Under some circumstances, the name and address of the Canadian Agent may be required instead. The registrant or agent can always be contacted for additional information. |
| Net Contents of Package | The amount of pesticide product in the container expressed in metric units. This information will help you decide how many packages will be needed. |
| Directions for Use | Includes species that are intended targets of the product, dosage rates, timing of application and limitations for use of the product. May list the re-entry time. |
| Degree and Nature of Hazards | Indicated by precautionary signs, symbols and signal words (see Table 2) as standardized and outlined in the Pest Control Products Regulations. |
| Precautionary Statements and Handling Precautions | Presents information on hazards relating to handling, storage, display, distribution and disposal. Instructions on how to eliminate the hazards should also be outlined here. May list the re-entry time. |
| First Aid Instructions | Gives practical information on what to do in the event of poisoning or injury by the product. |
| Toxicological Information | Gives information essential to treatment is a person is injured, or poisoned by the product. Includes the symptoms of poisoning, antidote or remedial measures and identity of other ingredients (such as petroleum distillates) in the product that may effect treatment. May list the re-entry time. |
Adapted from: Manitoba Labour and Immigration, Pesticide - Label information.
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
Table 2
Pesticide Symbols and Labelling |
| Four important symbols and words that show the potential hazards of pesticides. | The hazard symbol will always appear INSIDE one of the shapes shown below.These shapes and their warning words tell you the degree of hazard of the pesticide. The greater the number of sides to the shape, the more hazardous the product. |
Hazard Symbol | Signal Word | Hazard Degree | Warning Symbol | Signal Word |
 | Poison
(Hazard by oral, skin or inhalation routes; may cause irritation.) | Triangular shape means LOW hazard
(3 sides) |  | Caution |
 | Corrosive
(Product is corrosive to the skin and eyes; can cause chemical burns. It is either an acid or alkali (caustic).) | Diamond shape means MODERATE hazard
(4 sides) |  | Warning |
 | Flammable
(Pesticide has low flash point and is flammable or easily ignited.) | Octagonal shape means HIGH hazard
(8 sides) |  | Danger |
 | Explosive
(Pesticide can explode (e.g. pesticide in pressurized cans).) | 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: OMAFRA - Precautions with Pesticides: Read and Follow Pesticide Label Information
Table 3
Labels and Toxicity |
| Poison Hazard Symbol |  Danger Poison |  Warning Poison |  Caution Poison | [No symbol]Very low toxicity |
| Acute oral LD50 | less than 500 mg/kg | 500 - 1000 mg/kg | 1000-2000 mg/kg | greater than 2500 mg/kg |
| Acute dermal LD50 | less than 500 mg/kg | 500-1000 mg/kg | 1000-2000 mg/kg | greater than 2500 mg/kg |
| Respirator | required | advisable in confined spaces | advisable in confined spaces | advisable |
| Eye Protection | required | required | advisable | advisable |
| Eye effects | corrosive or irreversible | severe or reversible | irritant | -- |
| Chronic effects | fatal / irreversible | non-fatal / irreversible | non-fatal / reversible | -- |
| Petroleum distillates | 10% or more (domestic products) | 1 - 10% | -- | -- |
Adapted from:
Pesticide Wise, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/pesticides/b_3.htm,
Safe Work Manitoba
http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/pestsymbol.html
Government of Alberta
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2375
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 at this site:
http://pr-rp.pmra-arla.gc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=34,17551&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Fact sheets and examples of how to read a pesticide label are available from:
Understanding the Pesticide Label - Nova Scotia Environment and Labour
http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/pests/docs/PesticideLabels.pdf
The Pesticide Label - Ontario Pesticide Education Program, University of Guelph
http://www.opep.ca/French/On-Line%20Tool/pdfGPSC/10-Label(pg85-94).pdf
