Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
take precautions to make sure the fumigant remains in a sealed container until
it is released into the application site, which also must be sealed to prevent
the vapor from escaping. Some nonfumigant pesticides also can vaporize and
escape into the air. The labeling of volatile pesticides often includes warning
statements that the pesticide handler should heed. Any time you release a
volatile pesticide in an enclosed area, consider the hazards not only to yourself
and to fellow workers, but also to people, animals, and plants that are in or
near the release site or that may enter the area soon after the release.
Typical pesticide labeling statements that alert you to avoid drift include:
•
Do not apply when weather conditions favor drift from areas treated.
•
Do not allow drift onto plants intended for food or feed.
•
Drift from treated areas may he hazardous to aquatic organisms in
neighboring areas.
c.
Water
Pesticide particles and liquids may be carried offsite in water. Pesticides
can enter water through:
•
drift, leaching, and runoff from nearby applications
•
spills, leaks, and back-siphoning from nearby mixing, loading, stor-
age, and equipment cleanup sites
•
improper disposal of pesticides, rinsates, and containers.
Most pesticide movement in water is across the treated surface (runoff) or
downward from the surface (leaching). Runoff and leaching may occur when:
•
too much liquid pesticide is applied, leaked, or spilled onto a surface
•
too much rainwater, irrigation water, or other water gets onto a sur-
face containing pesticide residue.
Runoff water in the outdoor environment may travel into drainage ditches,
streams, ponds, or other surface water where the pesticides can be carried great
distances offsite. Pesticides that leach downward through the soil in the out-
door environment sometimes reach the ground water.
Runoff water in the indoor environment may get into domestic water sys-
tems and from there into surface water and ground water. Runoff can flow into
floor drains or other drains and into the water system. Sometimes a careless
pesticide handler washes pesticide down a sink drain and into the water system.
Some pesticides can leach downwards in indoor environments. In a green-
house, for example, pesticides may leach through the soil or other planting
