Exposure to dsRNA in dsRNA-based pesticide products is expected to be limited because of low application rates and the anticipated rapid degradation and dissipation of dsRNA in the environment. Available evidence suggests that dsRNAs have a long record of safe consumption by vertebrates as nucleic acids are naturally-occurring components of plant- and animal-derived foods and feed and are routinely consumed animals. 

Since dsRNA based pesticides often take longer to display efficacy protocols may require some revisions to account for this time lag by extending the study observation period. For organisms that have been demonstrated to be responsive to environmental RNA, consideration of life cycle studies (growth, development and reproduction) and studies on other non-lethal effects could be considered.

Available evidence suggests that dsRNAs have a long record of safe consumption by humans. Significant physiological and biochemical barriers exist in humans to limit the uptake and distribution of exogenous RNAs arising from oral and dermal exposure. These barriers include nucleases in saliva, denaturation and depurination in the acid pH of the stomach, nucleases in the digestive tract, pancreatic secretions of bile salts and degradative enzymes, cellular membrane barriers, the polysaccharide coating of the intestinal epithelium, and intracellular degradation in endosomes and lysosomes. The widespread distribution of such barriers is likely to be a consequence of the widespread presence of RNAs in the environment, molecules which could be biologically active if they were easily able to access cells. 

In many cases, specific product formulations may be designed to overcome problems of environmental stability of the active constituent and/or overcome barriers to uptake in the target organism. This suggests that, to inform the risk assessment of dsRNA-based pesticides, product-specific empirical testing will be required to fully characterise hazards and exposure.