It is understandable that people have questions about pesticides and their safety. The term pesticide encompasses a range of products designed to manage pests in and around your home, in agricultural settings and around critical infrastructure like powerlines, among other things.

Whether you have applied a tick medication to your dog, used ant traps in your home, put chemicals in your pool or weed control on your lawn, you have likely used a pesticide at some point. Health Canada is responsible for reviewing and approving all pesticides in Canada.

So, if you go to a retailer to purchase a pesticide to control a weed infestation that is taking over your lawn, what’s available on store shelves has been reviewed by the government for safety. Lawn and garden pesticides come in formulations ready for use by consumers as well as commercial-grade products designed for use by people with specialized training, such as those who work for lawn care or landscaping companies.

Following the label directions is important. Don’t mix them or use homemade pesticides since they have not been reviewed and approved.