Pesticide Impact on the Environment Flashcards
A pesticide that sticks to a soil particle is said to have been what?
Absorbed
The process that occurs when a pesticide changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor is called what?
Volatilization
The unintended movement of pesticide vapour or liquid through the air is called what?
Drift
Dust blowing in the air is an example of what drift?
Soil
When a pesticide is carried by water down through the soil, the movement is called what?
Leaching
When a pesticide changes into other compounds, this process is referred to as
Degradation
The transformation of a pesticide can occur through 3 different process. what are they
Chemical, Microbial and Photo breakdown
The movement of a pesticide through the soil is most affected by the soil’s
Texture
The term that describes the time required for a pesticide to become reduced in quantity and strength in the environment by 50% is called its
Half-life
Persistent pesticides so what slowly in the environment?
Degrade, breakdown
If a pesticide is applied to a heavy, clay soil, there is a good possibility that the pesticide remains on the surface and will be carried away by
Run off
Volatization of a pesticide can be reduced by not spraying when the temperature is
Hot
One way to reduce run off is avoid spraying when
Rain is forecast
To reduce leaching it is good practice not to do what for 24 hours after applying a pesticide?
Irrigate
To reduce spray drift it is good practice to use spray nozzles that produce
Large droplets
A temperature inversion increases drift because air moves in what direction during this time?
Sideways or lateral
Pesticide runoff is more likely to occur where?
On sloped land areas
A temperature inversion occurs when
Warm air sits on top of cool air
What property best explains why a pesticide will move with water surface run off?
High solubility
Contamination of water by pesticides
Groundwater contamination is high when a rain immediately follows application
What 2 factors should applicators be most concerned about to avoid drift spray?
Droplet size and wind speed
What 2 factors should applicators be most concerned about to avoid vapour drift?
Temperature and pesticide volatility
Factors that affect runoff
-Surface slope
-Existing moisture in the soil
-Amount of surface vegetation
Under which conditions is groundwater contamination likely to occur?
A sandy soil where ground water is shallow
