Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [pesticides]

a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals.

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Are GMOs a threat to bee populations?

An image is making the rounds on some Facebook groups: It appears to have originated from an anti-GMO website. Although the image is making multiple claims, there is an implied claim that GMOs are harmful to bees in and of themselves, not just with…
Ten Bitcomb
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Do supermarkets spray fruit to keep it from rotting?

Many people wash their fruits because they say that supermarkets put a chemical spray on them to keep them nice for a long time without rotting. (They are concerned that eating food with that spray is unhealthy for our body.) Is this true?
Pichi Wuana
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Do pesticides containing EDCs cause IQ loss, obesity and cryptorchidism?

Recently, there have been news reports about Endochrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) have sprung up, such as this February 2015 Guardian article. Draft EU criteria could have banned 31 pesticides containing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). But…
Mark Anderson
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Does baking soda eliminate a cockroach infestation?

My questions concerns a population, more significant than simply exterminating an individual cockroach. Claim: http://pest.tips.net/T003494_Kill_Roaches_with_Baking_Soda_and_Sugar.html If you're concerned about pesticides in your home because you…
user16959
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Are ants afraid of chalk and won't cross a chalk line?

Chalk Keep ants at bay by drawing a line around home entry points. The ants will be repelled by the calcium carbonate in the chalk, which is actually made up of ground-up and compressed shells of marine animals. Scatter powdered chalk around garden…
user5341
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Does Phenol (Carbolic acid) repel snakes?

Context: In India, snake prone villages or areas where snakebite deaths are common, people use phenol (carbolic acid) in a commercially prepared liquid solution beside the home and doorways. The form is usually drop or a moistened bit of cotton.…
Always Confused
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Does glyphosate herbicide break down into more toxic substances in the environment?

I am being asked to sign a petition that claims The residues of glyphosate can stay in the environment for up to 174 days, often breaking down into more toxic substances. Does glyphosate (a.k.a. Roundup) break down into more toxic substances, in…
E Clair
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Do the Celestial Seasonings teas contain dangerously high pesticide levels?

Someone on r/tea suggested updating the Celestial Seasonings (a tea brand) wikipedia page "to include the pesticide thing." A Google search finds a response of Celestial Seasonings to these accusation, saying that the reports were "false and…
Holly Rayl
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Does catnip repel rats, mice and cockroaches?

Cat-world claims that catnip can repel rats, mice and cockroaches. It was also discovered that catnip repels cockroaches too! and Rats & mice are also believed to have a strong dislike of catnip & will avoid places where it grows. Is it true?
Larry Morries
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Does lavender oil prevent fleas on dogs?

I just heard a rumor that Lavender oil prevents fleas when used on dogs. Researching this I found one source (Prevetion.com) which provides a claim, Research has found that lavender can be effective at repelling mosquitos and other arthropods. It’s…
Evan Carroll
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Does Triclosan effectively treat skin infections?

Minnesota recently mades the news for banning Triclosan, an antibacterial agent used in handwashes, due to potential health risks. (This question is not about those risks.) Those risks must be balanced with the potential for health gains. When it…
Oddthinking
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Is whitewashing trees a good practice?

In some countries it's a common practice to whitewash the trunks of fruit trees in the spring and autumn. They say it protects them from sunburns and that the calx (CaO) acts as a disinfectant. But critics say that the calx in combination with acid…
onetrickpony
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Are ants afraid of the smell of lemon?

From 13 Common Items for Getting Rid of Ants: Lemons You don’t need insecticides or ant traps to ant-proof your kitchen. Just give it the lemon treatment. First squirt some lemon juice on door thresholds and windowsills. Then squeeze lemon juice…
user5341
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Does baking soda help reducing pesticides from fruits and vegetables?

It seems to be effective with some pesticides on apples: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03118 I cannot find other studies related to other fruits and vegetables.
bart
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Does esbiothrin kill mosquitos?

I recently made use of an esbiothrin insecticide spray I bought in Europe. I've been using this product for a while now, with good results, I found it to be completely useless when used in Morocco. Does it work to kill mosquitos?
kvfi
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