bifenthrin fog blew onto our yard with vegetable garden - Ask Extension
Our neighbors had a technician from Mosquito Shield Company spray their yard. We found out the brand name used was Talstar (insecticide bifenthrin). T...
Knowledgebase
bifenthrin fog blew onto our yard with vegetable garden #716497
Asked August 22, 2020, 10:07 PM EDT
Our neighbors had a technician from Mosquito Shield Company spray their yard. We found out the brand name used was Talstar (insecticide bifenthrin). The fog spray blew into our yard with vegetable garden. We have contacted the PA dept of agriculture and they are coming to take samples. I talked with Don Gilbert of PA dept of agriculture who was as helpful as he could be but said he's not a toxicologist so wasn't sure if the veggies would be okay to eat. He suggested your site & NPIC. We have found all we can about this after looking at several sources. One source from Texas A & M (School of IPM) said if the fog was drift, which it was, thus not sprayed directly on the veggies, it is probably okay if we wash with vinegar and water. Purdue Extension Service suggested wait 3 days for tomatoes, etc. It didn't mention parsley, basil or other herbs. The possibly affected plants would be beans, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme. Can you comment on this?
Philadelphia County Pennsylvania
Expert Response
Your recent email was forwarded to my attention. Unfortunately I am
not a toxicologist either, and will not be able to answer your question
specifically. Like Mr. Gilbert referenced, the National Pesticide
Information Center, commonly refered to as NPIC, at Oregon State
University would be your best source of information regarding the the
affects the insecticide had on your plants and if they can be eaten.
However,
the active ingredient, bifenthrin, that is used in Talstar, is also
used in an insecticide that is labeled for use on vegetables. The
Talstar does contain a lower percentage of active ingredient versus the
one registered for agricultural crops. The agricultural label I looked
at did allow its use on many fruit and vegetable crops including beans,
tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peppers and parsley. With this product it
can not be applied within: 1 day of harvesting tomatoes; 3 days for
beans; 7 days for eggplant, peppers and zucchini; and parsley. However,
it did not include the use on herbs, sage, basil, rosemary and thyme.
The agricultural product will be applied at different rates versus the
Talstar. In addition, the amount of insecticide that the vegetables were
exposed is also a factor. But you to really help you in answering your
question regarding eating your vegetables you should contact NPIC. They
do have toxicologists on their staff that can provide further
information specific to bifenthrin. I hope this information will be of
some help to you and as referenced NPIC would be your best source of
information regarding your question about eating your vegetables. They
can be reached by telephone at 800/858-7378 M - F 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
Ed Crow - Pesticide Regulatory Specialist
Penn State Pesticide Education Program
