Diatomaceous Earth is harmless to touch, but it's not good if breathed in. This is a dust! You have to breathe when putting this stuff on, so wear a dust/pollen mask and goggles too. It's just highly irritant of mucous linings and tissue in the nose and throat.
Rotenone and Pyrethrin are normally natural substances, but there are synthetic versions. That is stated on the Extoxnet webpage. Each has it's own level of toxicity so be careful of which type you buy. Pyrethrins, when mixed with the synergist peritonyl butoxide, become highly toxic. Usually they are just an irritant.
My suggestion is to buy liquid forms over dust forms. This way the dust isn't in the air you breathe. Use only when necessary and sparingly. I guess most can agree that it's necessary every year. However, I used Pyola once on my roses and haven't seen any mites since. I never got any aphids here in Alabama. Wonder what's wrong with MY plants. Everyone else is getting those. Discrimination I tell ya! I was gonna have fun watching them die. Dangit!
Disease has been my biggest enemy this year. Too much rain has spread what looks like smut all over my plants. I guess the soil around here was tainted with disease or something.
I would advise that members try beneficial insects, companion planting, row covers, compost (said to be great disease control) and other non-harmful methods as well and use the chemicals, synthetic or organic(preferred) when all else fails.
Study, study, study, then choose. Best advice I can give you this year.
Happy gardening and good luck with pest control.
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