PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABLE PEST CONTROL
Simon Forrester Chief Executive of the British Pest Control Association looks at public health pest control and asks; can it ever be sustainable?
P
est control is vital to eradicate and prevent infestation from species that have a detrimental effect on the health of humans, are the cause of damage to
structures or foods, cause negative public reaction and loss of goodwill, breach legislation, and ultimately increase fear among the population. Pesticides have a vital role in controlling pest species. Millions of lives have been saved across the world through the control of disease spreading insects and rodents. Mosquitoes can transmit potentially deadly diseases like West Nile Virus, Yellow Fever and Malaria, and rats spread Weils Disease (Leptospirosis) that can cause liver failure. And it’s not just damage to human health – millions of tons of food are rendered useless by insect damage; studies suggest not using pesticides reduces crop yields by 10%. Pesticides are not perfect, they can cause severe adverse effects on human health themselves if misused. The World Health Organisation estimate 3 million people in the developing world each year suffer from severe poisoning from pesticides, resulting in 18,000 deaths. Also there are significant environmental problems caused by pesticide drift or spills which contaminate air, water and soil. Use of pesticides is therefore a balancing act between the harm caused by the pest, and the potential harm from the use of the pesticide. Over the years there has been a constant push towards
safe, sustainable, but effective pest management and control. EU legislation is risk-based, and provides a high level of protection. Chemical companies wishing to introduce new pesticides must spend millions of Euros on detailed research data on chemistry, toxicity and fate in the environment before products can be launched, and then every formulation must also go through a lengthy (and costly) registration process to ensure the risk is acceptable. Product registrations have a 5 or 10 year life span, so for manufacturers, the decision about whether to produce new active ingredients always comes down to commercial concerns, and at present new products seem unlikely to surface. The latest EU legislation is leading to the loss of around 80% of active ingredients, often those products which a pest controller might have turned to in the event of a problem infestation. The loss of these ‘get out of jail free cards’ coupled with restrictions on the use of products that we retain is changing the way pest control is carried out. For example permanent baiting outside for rodents is almost a thing of the past due to environmental risk to non-target species. Control of infestations requires targeted use of rodenticides coupled with close monitoring. This results in a move away from the traditional eight visits per year to a more intense programme, which add up in terms of staff time on site, travel costs and the like.
SO CAN PEST CONTROL BE GREEN? Yes it can, but again, research, development and implementation will involve a cost. A number of new and innovative systems are being introduced to the pest industry e.g. electronic monitoring systems for rodents, steam to eradicate bed bugs, and pheromone traps to control food moth.
Such developments are ‘green’ (i.e. use no toxins) and also more sustainable, but they will require a modern pest management specialist who is trained and competent in the use of new technologies. The professional public health pest industry can meet the challenges of providing a safe, responsible and sustainable pest service – but only with the support of the customers. If your pest controller is the stereotypical ‘ratman’ you may need to reconsider your choice of pest control contractor. While a flat cap and whippet may be endearing, you should demand a professional, skilled in new techniques. Similarly, if you constantly choose the cheapest contractor, your organisation is effectively involved in a race to the bottom, not the top. This race may prove costly – it could end in infestation, prosecution and negative publicity. Choose a pest control contractor through a proper tendering process, and get specialist advice, or you may find you under or over-estimate what should be in the contract, wasting money and/or storing up long term problems. Integrated pest management (IPM) is the process of integrating the use of inspection, physical and chemical control to achieve a pest free environment. You need a competent contractor to achieve these principles. The use of inspection tools such as non-toxic monitors and pheromones is an essential aspect of an IPM program – a great deal of planning is required for a comprehensive IPM scheme. IPM does not mean you cannot use a pesticide – it requires the targeted use of pesticide to control infestation as and when it occurs. You cannot defer your responsibility for pest control to the contractor – you need to take an active role in the prevention of pests at your site. Sustainable pest control requires you carry out the recommendations that are given to you by your contractor – hygiene, proofing,
18 PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY • VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5
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