If a product is represented as a Minimum-Risk pest control product and qualifies for exemption from EPA registration under FIFRA 25b, does that mean it is least toxic for LEED purposes? The specific product in question is Essentria IC3 insecticide concentrate.
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Jason Franken
Sustainability ProfessionalLEEDuser Expert
608 thumbs up
February 14, 2012 - 4:57 pm
Kimberlee, the EPA exemption doesn't necessarily mean a product meets the USGBC definition of a "least-toxic" pesticide, so you should be carefull to avoid the assumption that those two standards are interchangeable. Note that a "least-toxic" product is one that is listed as a Tier 3 product on the San Francisco Pesticide Hazard Screening List, which you can find at http://www.sfenvironment.org/downloads/library/hazard_screenings_of_pest....
That being said, the MSDS for Essentria IC3 indicates that the active ingredients are Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil and Geraniol (which is essentially Rose Oil). None of these ingredients show up on the San Francisco Pesticide Hazard Screening List in Tier 1 or Tier 2 products; and Rosemary Oil and mint oil are listed as the active ingredients in several Tier 3 products. It's not the definitive proof you get from seeing the actual branded product listed as a Tier 3 product by name, but this is a pretty good sign that this pesticide would be well-received as a "least-toxic" option.