Pesticide Study Guide

Created by Lanie Richard

Pesticides
Chemicals used to control or manage pest populations

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TermDefinition
PesticidesChemicals used to control or manage pest populations
What is the purpose of pesticides? To reduce pest populations to a non-economic level
PestsPlants and animals that compete with man for food and fiber, or attack man directly
Examples of pesticides:Insecticide, Acaricide, Herbicide, Fungicide, Nematicide, Rodenticide, Piscicide, Avicide, and Repellents
Insecticidekills insects
Acaricidekills mites-ticks
Herbicidekills weeds
Fungicidekills fungus
Nematicidekills nematodes
Rodenticidekills rats/mice
Piscicidekills trash fish
Avicideaffects birds
Repellentsrepels birds
Pesticide Categories: Non-persistent, Persistent, Accumulative
Non-persistentbreaks down quickly to harmless or less harmful products
Persistentbreaks down slowly and may remain in the environment for long periods of time. generally, more harmful to non-target species
Accumulativemay build up in the bodies of animals in food chains, including man
Examples of non-persistent pesticides: organosphate and carbmate pesticides
Examples of persistent pesticides: Organochlorine pesticides, 2-4 D
Examples of accumulative pesticides: DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor, aldrin, toxaphene
How do pesticides harm the environment? Injure plants, illegal residues, direct mortality, chronic exposure hazards, chronic effects of pesticides
How do pesticides harm the environment? Injure plants Phytotoxicity
How do pesticides harm the environment? Illegal residuesLoss of Sale
How do pesticides harm the environment? Direct MortalityAcute Toxicity of Non-target species insects- beneficials, predators, parasites, fish food Fish- nearby water Birds- in & around target area Man accidentally (improper use)
How do pesticides harm the environment? Chronic Exposure HazardsCarcinogenicity, Teratogenicity, Mutagenicity, Reproductive Problems- Birds (eggshell thinning in sensitive species), Fish- Trout reproduction, Limit soil use, Limit water use
Carcinogenicitythe potential to cause cancer
Teratogenicitymay cause birth defects
How do pesticides harm the environment? Chronic effects of Pesticideslong term exposure to sublethal levels may be more important than acute mortality due to a single exposure
Pesticide Movement: Drift, Erosion, Leaching, Volatilization, Codistillation, Streams, Air, Animals
Pesticide Movement: DriftProblem when off target - droplet size: smaller droplets are more effective for pest control, use when less than 5 mph wind
Pesticide Movement: ErosionWind and Water - most pesticides are absorbed on soil particles or organic matter in the soil
Pesticide Movement: leachinglittle movement
Pesticide Movement: Codistillationsoil and water
Pesticide Movement: streamssediment
Pesticide Movement: Air global movement
Pesticide Movement: Animals residues
Basic ingredients of life:Soil, Air, Water, Sunlight
Effects of soil pollution: Sterilization, Limit Use
Sources of Contamination: Direct applications, indirect - plants and animals
Persistence in soil: insecticide itself, soil type, moisture, microorganisms, soil temperature, cover crops, cultivation, mode of action, formulation, translocation
Persistence in soil: Insecticide itselfhalf-life of a persistent pesticide (DDT) may be in the soil for several years
Persistence in soil: Soil typeHeavy soils tend to increase persistence as compared to sandy or light soils. Higher rate for heavy clay soils.
Persistence in soil: Moisturegenerally increases the breakdown of pesticides and lessens their persistence. Increases volatization and codistillation
Persistence in soil: Microorganisms also degrade pesticides
Persistence in soil: Soil temperatureincreasing soil temperature increases volitization, codistillation, and degradation of persistence.
Persistence in soil: cover cropsincrease persistence
Persistence in soil: cultivationdecreases persistence
Persistence in soil: formulationgranules more persistent than sprays
Persistence in soil: Translocationa device used purposely to control certain pests with systemic pesticides - removes some residues from the soil into the plants
____ commonly will contain residues amounting to ___ of the soil level of organochlorine insecticidesSoybeans; 10%
Water sources of contaminationDirect Application, Accidental Application and Drift, Runoff from Treated Areas, Waste from Manufacturing, Leaching, Pesticide Containers, Sewage, Concern
Water sources of contamination: Direct Applicationmade to water to control or manage pests like trash fish, noxious weeds, mosquito larvae, etc.
Water sources of contamination: Accidental Application and Driftaerial applications to crops near streams and lakes sometimes results in accidental direct applications and drift
Water sources of contamination: Runoff from Treated Areascarries both water soluble and insoluble pesticides into drainage systems
Water sources of contamination: Waste from Manufacturinghappens occasionally
Water sources of contamination: leaching into subsurface water an area of concern
Water sources of contamination: Pesticide Containerssometimes wash into lakes and streams, many placed deliberately
Water sources of contamination: Sewagefrom towns and cities
Water sources of contamination: Concernacute toxicity of some pesticides to fish
Air sources of contamination: Drift, Volatilization, Codistillation, Dust deposited through rain or dust, More than one pesticide, Synergistic reaction, Antagonistic reaction
DriftAir sources of contamination: during application process
VolatilizationAir sources of contamination: from soil, plant, animal, and water surfaces.
CodistillationAir sources of contamination: with water
Dust deposited through rain or dustAir sources of contamination: globally
More than one pesticideAir sources of contamination: frequently used to control a complex of pests - check label for compatibility
Synergistic reactionAir sources of contamination: two or more chemicals give activity exceeding that which would have been normally expected
Antagonistic reactionAir sources of contamination: two or more chemicals exert activity below or less than that which would have been expected