Pesticides in the Environment
Introduction
The environment is everything that is around us. It includes not only the natural elements that the word "environment" most often brings to mind, but also people and the manmade components of our world. Neither is the environment limited to the outdoors -- it also includes the indoor areas in which we live and work. Anyone who uses a pesticide -- indoors or outdoors, in a city or in the country -- must consider how that pesticide will affect the environment.
The user must ask two questions:
- How will this pesticide affect the immediate environment at the site where it is being used?
- What are the dangers that the pesticide will move out of the use site and cause harm to other parts of the environment?
Pesticides can harm all types of environments if they are not used correctly. Responsible pesticide users know and follow good practices that achieve effective pest control with very little risk of environmental damage. Pesticide product labeling statements are intended to alert you to particular environmental concerns that a pesticide product poses.
Sources of Contamination
When environmental contamination occurs, it is the result of either point-source or non-point-source pollution. Point-source pollution comes from a specific, identifiable place (point). A pesticide spill that moves into a storm sewer is an example of point-source pollution. Most pesticide contamination results from point sources, such as:
- wash water and spills produced at equipment cleanup sites,
- improper disposal of containers, water from rinsing containers, and excess pesticides,
- pesticide storage sites where leaks and spills are not correctly cleaned up, and
- spills that occur while mixing concentrates or loading pesticides into application equipment.
These kinds of tasks are involved with nearly every pesticide use, whether the pesticide is applied outdoors or in or around an enclosed structure.
Sensitive Areas
Sensitive areas are sites or living things that are easily injured by a pesticide.
Sensitive areas outdoors include:
- areas where ground water is near the surface or easily accessed (wells, sinkholes, porous soil, etc.),
- areas in or near surface water,
- areas near schools, playgrounds, hospitals, and other institutions,
- areas near the habitats of endangered species,
- areas near apiaries (honeybee sites), wildlife refuges, or parks, and
- areas near ornamental gardens, food or feed crops, or other sensitive plantings.
Sensitive areas indoors include:
- areas where people -- especially children, pregnant women, the elderly, or the sick -- live, work, or are cared for,
- areas where food or feed is processed, prepared, stored, or served,
- areas where domestic or confined animals live, eat, or are otherwise cared for, and
- areas where ornamental or other sensitive plantings are grown or maintained.
Sometimes pesticides must be deliberately applied to a sensitive area to control a pest. These applications should be performed by persons who are well trained about how to avoid causing injury in such areas.
Pesticide Movement
Pesticides that move away from the release site may cause environmental contamination. Pesticides move away from the release site both indoors and outdoors and may cause harm in both environments. Pesticides move in several ways, including:
- in air, through wind or through air currents generated by ventilation systems,
- in water, through runoff or leaching,
- on or in objects, plants, or animals (inclding humans) that move or are moved offsite.
Air
Pesticide movement away from the release site in the air is usually called drift. Pesticide particles, dusts, spray droplets, and vapors all may be carried offsite in the air. People who mix, load, and apply pesticides outdoors usually are aware of the ease with which pesticides drift offsite. People who handle pesticides indoors may not realize how easily some pesticides move offsite in the air currents created by ventilation systems and by forced-air heating and cooling systems.
Particles and droplets -- Lightweight particles, such as dusts and wettable powders, are easily carried by moving air. Granules and pellets are much heavier and tend to settle out of air quickly. Small spray droplets also are easily carried in air currents. High-pressure and fine nozzles produce very small spray droplets that are very likely to drift. Lower pressure and coarse nozzles produce larger droplets with less drift potential.
The likelihood that pesticide particles and spray droplets will drift offsite depends partly on the way they are released. Pesticides released close to the ground or floor are not as likely to be caught up in air currents as those released from a greater height. Pesticides applied in an upward direction are the most likely to be carried on air currents.
Vapors -- Pesticide vapors move about easily in 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.
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, storage, and equipment cleanup sites, and
- 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, or
- too much rainwater, irrigation water, or other water gets onto a surface 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 outdoor environment sometimes reach the ground water.
On or In Objects, Plants, or Animals
Pesticides can move away from the release site when they are on or in objects or organisms that move (or are moved) offsite. Pesticides may stick to shoes or clothing, to animal fur, or to blowing dust and be transferred to other surfaces. When pesticide handlers bring home or wear home contaminated personal protective equipment, work clothing, or other items, residues can rub off on carpeting, furniture, and laundry items and onto pets and people.
Harmful effects on Nontarget Plants and Animals
Nontarget organisms may be harmed by pesticides in two ways:
- The pesticide may cause injury by contacting the nontarget organism directly, or
- The pesticide may leave a residue that causes later injuries.
Harmful Effects From Direct Contact
Pesticides may harm nontarget organisms that are present during a pesticide application. Poorly timed applications can kill bees and other pollinators that are active in or near the target site. Pesticides may harm other wildlife, too. Read the warnings and directions on the pesticide labeling carefully to avoid harming nontarget organisms during a pesticide application.
Drift from the target site may injure wildlife, livestock, pets, sensitive plants, and people. For example, drift of herbicides can damage sensitive nearby plants, including crops, forests, or ornamental plantings. Drift also can kill beneficial parasites and predators that are near the target site.
Harmful Effects From Residues
A residue is the part of a pesticide that remains in the environment for a period of time following application or a spill. Pesticides usually break down into harmless components after they are released into an environment. The breakdown time ranges from less than a day to several years. The rate of pesticide breakdown depends mostly on the chemical structure of the pesticide active ingredient.
Persistent pesticides leave residues that stay in the environment without breaking down for long periods of time. These pesticides are sometimes desirable, because they provide long-term pest control and may reduce the need for repeated applications. However, some persistent pesticides that are applied to or spilled on soil, plants, lumber, and other surfaces or into water can later cause harm to sensitive plants or animals, including humans, that contact them.
When using persistent pesticides, consider whether their continued presence in the environment is likely to harm plants and animals. Sometimes animals can be harmed when they feed on plants or animals that have pesticide residues on or in them.
Harmful Effects on Surfaces
Sometimes surfaces are harmed by pesticides or pesticide residues. Some surfaces may become discolored by contact with certain pesticides. Other surfaces may be pitted or marked by contact with some pesticides. Some pesticides can corrode or obstruct electronic systems or metal. Sometimes a pesticide will leave a visible deposit on the treated surface.
Authors:
Philip G. Koehler, University of Florida
Robert A. Belmont, Florida Pest Control Association
This file is part of the UF/IFAS Basic Pesticide Training manual (SM-59) which is intended to provide intermediate training to pest control operators. The manual was adapted from a larger manual, Applying Pesticides Properly, which was developed by Ohio State University in cooperation with the Cooperative Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Published: March, 1998
