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Pesticides are made up of two types of ingredients — active and inert. The active ingredient or “AI” is the chemical portion of a pesticide product that can kill or control a pest. The remainder of a formulated pesticide product consists of one or more inert ingredients, such as water and solvents. The essence of the Our Water, Our World Program is the identification and selection of pesticides with active ingredients less likely to cause water pollution. The resources listed below provide information and identify less-toxic pesticides as options to more conventional pesticides.
List of less-toxic products, organized by brand
List of less-toxic products, organized by pest
List of less-toxic active ingredients
Criteria and process for developing less-toxic products lists
Common home and garden pesticides are found in stormwater runoff, treated wastewater, and in local waterways, sometimes at levels that can harm sensitive aquatic life. Our Water Our World, sponsor of this website, is a joint effort by water pollution prevention agencies, participating retail stores, and pesticide distributors and manufacturers — working together to reduce the risks associated with pesticide use.
This website is provided as a public service. No endorsement of specific brand name products is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not mentioned.