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Harlem Word: Daniel Kass explains how cockroaches are bad for your health

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Editor | Aug 19 2010 - 11:06am
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Daniel Kass is Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This department works to increase awareness about environmental health issues and change environmental health policy. One thing they are trying to do is increase the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) throughout New York City. Be sure to read the Daniel Kass Harlem Word series to learn more about how pests affect your health and why IPM is better for you than pesticide use!

Q: How do cockroaches cause health problem in our homes?

A: Some people with asthma are sensitive to cockroaches. For them, cockroaches increase the chance of asthma attacks and make breathing difficult. Cockroaches can also make food spoil, which can make people sick when they eat it. Finally, having cockroaches in the home can influence how people feel about their home, and can make people feel ashamed.

Q: What are pesticides?

A: Pesticides are any chemical product used to control pests. Pests include insects, weeds, rodents or other plants and animals that are believed to be annoying. The most common pests in New York City are cockroaches and mice. There are benefits to the use of some pesticides because they are able to rid the home of these pests without hurting people. But, there are major drawbacks for people who use certain pesticides. Some pesticides lead to poisonings and other negative health problems.

Q: Why is spraying pesticides worse for your health than Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

A: Traditional pest control involves routine use of pesticides by professionals or individuals. Once you decide that using pesticides is the only thing you're going to do you need to keep on using them over and over again. This is because they are not very effective. So, you kill some pests, but the pests never really go away. Some pests become resistant to pesticides and are more difficult to get rid of. You end up having to use more chemicals to combat them. If pesticides are the only thing available, some people are so desperate that they spray unsafe amounts all over their apartments in ways that are not only ineffective, but can really hurt people. Many even resort to using illegal pesticides bought on the black market. Some are illegal because they are proven to be dangerous, and some are illegal because they were never tested or allowed to be sold by government agencies that approve their sale. Pesticides can build up over time, affect newborns, poison people and some have been linked to neurological illnesses and cancer.

Read more from Daniel Kass by clicking the links below:

 

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Northern Manhattan health experts, written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.
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3 Comments

Laura August 19, 2010 - 2:20pm

I recently learned about Integrated Pest Management. Apparently when an exterminator comes who specializes in Integrated Pest Management, they not only use chemicals but also treat the source of the problem. For example, if there's a hole in your wall where the mice keep getting in, they patch up the hole.. or if there are cracks around your windows that bugs are getting into, they fill those in too. It's supposed to be so much better in eliminating bugs because it stops new ones from getting in!

8tr6675 July 28, 2011 - 8:08pm

I did not know that people with asthma are sensitive to cockroaches. All I knew was that they spread easily where there is a lot of water. I heard that they may even come out of the electrical outlets. What I've used in the past was the Combat brand. It has a variety of roach killing products, including roach killing baits and gels that help sometimes to get rid of them, but not always. Of course, having them at home is not pleasant, and that is why I never leave dirty dishes throughout the night. I try to have clean kitchen at all times.I don't want let them spoil our food, especially when I have small child at home.

Riverside August 12, 2011 - 12:35pm

8tr6675, did you see the other article about what Integrate Pest Management is?
http://www.gethealthyharlem.org/articles/harlem-word-daniel-kass-talks-how-integrated-pest-management-ipm-works-better-pesticides

Using Combat and other pesticides like it is a temporary solution and might make bugs resilient to these products... Integrated pest management seems to be a more permanent solution (and healthier for everyone in your house!) Keeping a clean kitchen is another great way to keep your family healthy!

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