The chemicals you didn’t know you were using (and how to avoid them)

Just because household pesticides are easy to buy, it doesn’t mean they’re safe.

These chemicals are designed to kill, and many pose risks—not just when used carelessly, but also when consumers mistakenly trust misleading branding, marketing claims or positive reviews without digging deeper.

Without proper research, you could be exposing your home, your family, your pets and the environment to hidden dangers.

The problem with disclosure (or lack of)

Take a closer look at conventional pest control labels. You’ll find more than just a list of ingredients—you’ll also see what’s missing. Federal law requires companies to list active ingredients—the chemicals in the product that are meant to kill or repel the pest. However, the law does not require manufacturers to identify inert (or other) ingredients by name or percentage on product labels.

Manufacturers submit full pesticide formulations to the EPA, but the inert ingredients are classified as trade secrets or confidential business information. That means a product—the majority of which may be inert ingredients—could contain solvents, stabilizers or even harmful chemicals and consumers would have no way of knowing.

The red flag isn’t just in the fine print—it’s when the information simply isn’t there.

At Dr. Killigan’s, full disclosure isn’t just a promise—it’s our standard. We openly share every ingredient—including inert ingredients—in our products, ensuring you can make informed choices about what you bring into your home. Transparency builds trust and we believe you deserve nothing less.

Full transparency, no hidden ingredients—We disclose every product ingredient, so you can make informed choices. [Read more: Putting customers first: The power of full disclosure]

The problem with harmful chemicals

Pesticides aren’t just found in outdoor insect sprays or weed killers. They’re also present in everyday household products like disinfectants, furniture polish and even antifreeze. Many of these hazardous chemicals are commonly used in household pest control products as well.

Conventional pesticides can contain toxic ingredients linked to serious health risks, including cancer, neurological disorders and respiratory issues.

• A review published in Canadian Family Physician found that pesticide exposure increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers.
• A further review in the European Review of Medical and Pharmacological Sciences revealed that many pesticides can damage DNA—an early warning sign of serious health risks.
• Even more alarming, there’s no single test to determine how toxic a pesticide is to humans.

Despite these risks, regulation and testing remain inadequate. As Senator Frank Lautenberg once said: “Of the 84,000 chemicals on the market today—many of which are in objects that people come into contact with every day—only about 1 percent of them have been studied for safety."

The problem with labeling

Not all risks are clearly labeled. While some products include warning signals like DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION to indicate toxicity levels, other marketing terms—like “natural” or “safe for the environment”—have no regulatory definition. This opens the door for greenwashing, a deceptive marketing tactic where companies use vague or misleading environmental claims to make products appear safer or more eco-friendly than they are.

A product may use green packaging, boast nature-inspired branding or claim to be “eco-friendly,” “non-toxic” or “safe for pets,” but without ingredient transparency, these claims mean nothing.

What this means for you: Before using any pesticide, look beyond marketing claims. Seek full ingredient transparency and rely on science-backed products.

Ask yourself: Do I trust this product’s safety or just trust its branding?

Our products are free from toxic pesticides and our labeling is clear, honest and backed by science—not marketing gimmicks. Here’s why you can trust Dr. Killigan’s:

• Recognized by the EPA – Our products pose little to no risk to human health or the environment. [Read more: Ingredients without harmful pesticides: Understanding EPA’s ‘minimum risk pesticides]
• Committed to safety – We acknowledge the serious risks of pesticide exposure and offer safer alternatives. [Read more: Can exposure to pesticides cause cancer?]
• No misleading labels – We prioritize transparency, ensuring you know exactly what’s in our products. [Read more: The truth about pesticide labels: What you need to know, not fear]
• Safe for families, lethal for insects – We provide effective pest control without compromise. [Read more: Dr. Killigan’s: Safe for families, lethal for insects]

Misleading marketing and hidden ingredients are only part of the issue. The other? Our busy lifestyles often lead us to trust branding without question.

The problem with buying (without research)

We live in a world of convenience—quick buys, fast decisions and instant trust. When was the last time you truly researched a product before purchasing it?

Think about it:

1. Did the branding catch your eye?
2. Did it have great reviews?
3. Was it on sale?
4. Did it pop up on your social media feed at just the right moment?

These are all common reasons for buying a product—but did you stop to check what’s inside?

"Research is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought." – Albert Szent-Györgyi

Just because a product claims to be “safe for the environment” or “family-friendly” doesn’t mean it actually is. Marketing sells products—but it doesn’t guarantee safety.

So before you trust the label, take a step further:

1. Look beyond marketing buzzwords—they are not a substitute for full transparency.
2. Google specific ingredients and check independent studies for real data.
3. Challenge assumptions—why does this product claim to be “non-toxic”? Who is verifying that claim?

This is where true consumer power lies: In making informed decisions.

Synthetic insecticides to avoid in pest control products

Making informed choices starts with knowing what to look for. Pesticides don’t always appear under the names you expect. Here’s how you can cut through the confusion:

• Check for alternative names – Some chemicals are marketed under different names. If an ingredient sounds unfamiliar, a quick search can reveal its other aliases.
• Look beyond brand names – The same pesticide may be sold under different trade names, so focus on ingredients rather than labels.
• Watch out for vague formulations – Proprietary blends may hide harmful chemicals under generic terms like “inert ingredients.” Transparency matters.
• Verify with CAS numbers – If an ingredient list is unclear, searching for its CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number can confirm its identity, no matter what name it’s sold under.

Even small steps—like double-checking an ingredient list—can help you avoid hidden toxins and make safer choices for your home.

These four synthetic insecticides are among the most common in household pest control—and among the most concerning.

1. Fipronil

Found in: Ant and roach baits, flea treatments for pets

Risks:

• Harm to songbirds – Research from the University of Sussex found high levels of fipronil in the nests of blue and great tits, leading to unhatched eggs and higher chick mortality rates.
• Contamination from pet treatments – Flea treatments containing fipronil can transfer to the environment through pet activities and hand washing, spreading the pesticide beyond its intended use.
• Waterway pollution – Fipronil has been widely detected in streams and rivers, where it poses a serious threat to aquatic life.
• Long-term environmental impact – This pesticide is persistent and bioaccumulative, raising concerns about its lasting effects on ecosystems.

What this means for you: Avoiding products with fipronil helps protect songbird populations, reduce toxic runoff into waterways and prevent long-term environmental contamination.

2. Imidacloprid

Found in: Flea treatments, termite control products, soil insecticides

Risks:

• Harm to bees – Imidacloprid is highly toxic to bees, causing agitation, seizures, tremors and paralysis. Exposure to this neonicotinoid has been linked to declining pollinator populations, threatening biodiversity and food production.
• Contamination from pet treatments – Flea treatments containing imidacloprid can spread into the environment through pet activities and hand washing, increasing unintended exposure to wildlife.
• Waterway pollution – This insecticide has been detected at toxic levels in rivers, contributing to environmental contamination and posing risks to aquatic ecosystems.
• Long-term environmental impact – Imidacloprid persists in the environment, affecting beneficial insects and contributing to ecosystem imbalances that harm biodiversity.

What this means for you: Avoiding imidacloprid protects pollinators and prevents contamination of soil and water.

3. Permethrin

Found in: Household insect sprays, pet shampoos, lice treatments, mosquito repellents

Risks:

• Toxicity to cats: Permethrin is highly toxic to cats, leading to symptoms such as tremors, seizures and, in severe cases, death. This toxicity is due to cats' inability to efficiently metabolize permethrin.
• Harm to aquatic life: Permethrin is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Its persistence in the environment can lead to long-lasting effects on aquatic ecosystems.
• Impact on beneficial insects: Permethrin is highly toxic to bees and other beneficial insects, which can disrupt pollination processes and harm biodiversity.

What this means for you: Avoiding permethrin-based products safeguards cats from toxic exposure, protects beneficial insects crucial for pollination and helps prevent pesticide accumulation in aquatic environments.

4. Cyfluthrin

Found in: Household insect sprays, lawn and garden insecticides, pet flea treatments, agricultural pesticides

Risks:

• Neurological effects in humans – Cyfluthrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that affects the nervous system. Exposure can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea and in severe cases, seizures. Long-term exposure may lead to neurotoxic effects, particularly in children.
• Harm to aquatic life – Cyfluthrin is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Even at low concentrations, it can cause severe damage to aquatic ecosystems by bioaccumulating in fish and disrupting the food chain.
• Impact on pollinators and beneficial insects – Similar to other pyrethroids, cyfluthrin is toxic to bees and other pollinators. Studies have shown that even sublethal exposure can impair bees' ability to forage and reproduce, contributing to population declines.

What this means for you: Steering clear of cyfluthrin helps protect neurological health, prevents disruption to beneficial insects and keeps aquatic ecosystems thriving.

Pesticide	Found in	Risks	Impact	What means for you
Fipronil	Ant and roach baits, flea treatments for pets	Harm to songbirds, contamination from pet treatments	Waterway pollution, long-term bioaccumulation	Protects songbirds, reduces toxic runoff, prevents lasting environmental harm
Imidacloprid	Flea treatments, termite control products, soil insecticides	Harmful to bees, wildlife contamination	River contamination, ecosystem imbalances	Safeguards polinators, prevents soil and water contamination
Permethrin	Household insect sprays, pet shampoos, lice treatments, mosquito repellents	Toxicity to cats	Aquatic toxicity, harm to beneficial insects	Keeps pets safe, supports pollination, avoids ecosystem disruption
Cyfluthrin	Household sprays, garden insecticides, pet flea treatments	Neurological risks to humans	Toxic to aquatic life, harmful to pollinators	Protects human health, maintains biodiversity, preserves water quality

And this is just the beginning. The pesticides listed here are some of the most widely used in household pest control products, but they are far from the only ones raising concerns. Many synthetic insecticides pose serious risks. To make informed choices, research is essential.

Want to dig deeper? Explore the Pesticide Active Ingredients Database to learn more about common pesticides and their potential impacts.

To explore what substances are approved as inert ingredients in pesticide products, you can refer to the EPA's InertFinder database. However, it's important to note that while InertFinder provides information on approved inert ingredients, it does not necessarily indicate their safety or disclose potential health or environmental risks. Additionally, because manufacturers are not required to list inert ingredients on labels, identifying and avoiding certain chemicals can still be a challenge.

For greater transparency, seek out products that fully disclose their ingredient lists and opt for pest control solutions that prioritize safety without hidden additives.

A safer way forward

Making informed choices about pest control isn't just about protecting your home—it's about safeguarding the environment. When you choose transparent, carefully formulated alternatives, you're reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and supporting a healthier world.

Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Dr. Killigan’s primary goal is your success: to see peace restored to your home. We stand by our products and are so confident in them that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

If you haven’t had the results you were hoping for, please contact our Customer Experience Team. Our team is equipped to assist you with troubleshooting to ensure your success against pests and will journey with you until you gain victory.

If you’ve given our products a try, followed the instructions and are still not satisfied, we will provide a full refund or replacement of your purchase.

At Dr. Killigan’s, we believe pest control shouldn’t come with trade-offs. You shouldn’t have to choose between effectiveness and safety. With clear labeling, no hazardous ingredients and zero glyphosate, you can take back your home with confidence.

Discover a better way to eliminate pests—shop our plant-powered pest control solutions today.