Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)

General Information

• Fact Sheet: bacillus thuringiensis.pdf
• Product Names:
  Caterpillar Killer (Safer)
  Worm and Caterpillar Killer (Garden Safe)
  Garden Dust (Safer)

  Thuricidie (Southern Ag)

  Monterey B.t. (Monterey)
• Chemical Class: Soil bacterium insecticide
• Uses: Organic Agriculture, Aquaculture, Least-toxic mosquito control
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Least-toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Not documented
• Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
• Reproductive Effects: Not documented
• Neurotoxicity: Not documented
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Not documented
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Not documented
• Birth/Developmental Not documented
• Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
• Potential Leacher: Not documented
• Toxic to Birds: Not documented
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Not documented
• Toxic to Bees: Yes (7)

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (9/1997)
  • Beyond Pesticides GMO BT crops comments
• Supporting information:
  • Daily News Blog entries (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Extoxnet Aldicarb Factsheet: Bt (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • Bt Fact Sheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • PAN Pesticides Database: Bt (Pesticide Action Network)