PESTICIDES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

How will pesticide effect immediate environment?

What are possibilities for movement of pesticide off site? 

SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION: 

Point-source - (A specific, identifiable location)

- Spills, cleanup site

- Improper disposal of containers, excess pesticide

- Storage sites, leaks, and spills

- Spills during mixing, loading 

Non-point source - (from a wide, non-site specific area)

- Movement off treatment area into nearby streams  

SENSITIVE AREAS: 

- Shallow ground water

- Near surface water

- Near schools, playgrounds, hospitals

- Near endangered species habitat

- Near apiaries (beehives), wildlife refuges, parks

- Near gardens

- Near food, livestock, domestic animals 

READ LABEL FOR SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

PESTICIDE MOVEMENT

AIR - Drift in form of: 1) dust particles, 2) spray droplets, 3) vapors 

- Can occur during mixing, loading, application

- High pressure and fine nozzles will likely cause drift -

- Direction of spray, height above ground, prevalent winds are all factors in the amount and likelihood of drift. 

WATER - Can leave site resulting from: 1) Drift, 2) leaching, 3) runoff 

- Spills, leaks, back-siphoning from tanks, while mixing, loading, storage, and cleanup

- Improper disposal of pesticides, rinsate, containers

- Caused by high application rates, excessive rain water 

OBJECTS, PLANTS, ANIMALS - Can leave site on:

1) Applicators clothing, 2) animal fur, 3) product residues 

- Caused by high application rates, improper timing for re-entry into site, off-site movement 

READ LABEL FOR SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

HARMFUL EFFECTS ON NONTARGET PLANTS & ANIMALS

DIRECT CONTACT:

- Caused by being present during application, drift, runoff 

INDIRECT CONTACT:

- Residues on target and non-target

- Pesticide breakdown over time dependent on chemical composition, moisture, temperature, amount of direct sunlight, and microorganisms

Persistent Pesticides - long-term residues 

Pesticides may accumulate in the bodies of animals over time from target, soil, prey.  This may lead to more off-site movement.

READ LABEL FOR SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER 

- Application practices - Overdoses, choice of application method, backsiphoning, location of mixing sites, disposal 

- Water on application site - watch weather forecasts

- Chemical characteristics of pesticide - solubility, adsorption, persistence

- Soil factors - texture, permeability, amount of organic material,

- Depth of water table - varies by season, amount & type of vegetation 

PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES 

Direct impacts on species; Indirect impact on habitat, food sources;

READ LABEL FOR PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

HARMFUL EFFECTS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE 

HAZARD = TOXICITY   x   EXPOSURE 

Toxicity = the poison-level of the pesticide 

Exposure = ORAL, INHALATION, OCULAR, DERMAL

AVOID EXPOSURE by - 

- Dilute pesticide, use less hazardous formulations, and use with care

- Protect body

- Be aware of skin conditions: cuts, hot, sweating 

CAUSES OF EXPOSURE: 

Oral - by not washing hands, mistaking pesticide for food/drink

Inhalation - poor ventilation, improper respirator, drift,

Dermal - by not washing, splashing, unprotected skin,

Eye - splashing, rubbing eyes, no goggles, drifting dusts 

TOXICITY depends on: 

- Type and amount of active ingredient

- Type and amount of carrier, solvent

- Type and amount of inert ingredients

- Type of formulation 

HARMFUL EFFECTS 

ACUTE - Illnesses or injuries appear immediately or within 24-hours after exposure. 

- Burning sensation in mouth, eyes, skin

- Difficulty breathing

- Blisters, cracks, change in skin color

- Temporary blindness 

DELAYED EFFECTS -  

- Caused by repeated exposures over extended period of time

- Caused by single exposure but the symptoms are not apparent until much later.  This may or may not lead to long-term problems. 

CHRONIC EFFECTS:

- Tumors, cancer, malignancy, changes in genes or chromosomes

DEVELOPMENTAL & REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS:

- Birth defects, miscarriage, infertility, impotence

SYSTEMIC EFFECTS:

- Blood disorders, brain, nerve disorders, skin, respiratory, liver, kidney disorders

When shown that pesticide causes these serious effects: 

EPA - removes pesticide from use, requires label warnings, requires specific PPE, changes dosages, methods, timing, restricts use to certified applicators. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HARMFUL EFFECTS 

ALLERGIC EFFECTS - (different reactions for different people) 

Systemic: asthma, shock 

Skin irritation 

Eye, nose irritation 

SYMPTOMS - noticed by the person exposed 

SIGNS - chemicals often exhibit distinctive reactions in the human body

READ APPENDIX FOR SPECIFIC PESTICIDE GROUPS

FIRST AID:

DERMAL - wash skin, remove PPE, wash entire body, 

OCULAR - wash eye with eyelid open for 15 minutes 

INHALATION - get fresh air, warn others, loosen clothing 

ORAL - rinse mouth, drink milk, water, induce vomiting only if instructions say so. 

PESTICIDE HANDLING 

Questions to ask: 

- Have I read the labeling? 

- How can I avoid exposure to pesticides? 

- What personal protective equipment is needed? 

- Is the equipment ready and safe? 

- Am I avoiding the accidental spread of pesticides? 

- Have I instructed the handlers I supervise? 

- Am I prepared for emergencies? 

- Are people and animals out of the area? 

Pre-Application Decisions: 

- Choice of pesticides 

- Choice of formulation: application site, equipment, cost, pesticide movement, personal safety, target pest, surface characteristics 

- Choice of application procedures concerning effectiveness

- Treatment area

- Soil Surfaces

- Plant Surfaces

- Other Surfaces

- Surface Moisture

- Temperature, Sunlight, Humidity

- Precipitation

- Air Movement 

- Scheduling of applications