Pesticide drift
Pesticide drift refers to the unintentional diffusion of pesticides and the potential negative effects of pesticide application--including, but not limited to: off-target contamination due to spray drift as well as runoff from plants/soil[1]. This can lead to damage in human health, environmental contamination, and property damage [1] [2].
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[edit] Types
With placement (localised) spraying of broad spectrum pesticides, wind drift must be minimized, and considerable efforts have been made recently to quantify and control spray drift from hydraulic nozzles[3]. Conversely, wind drift is also an efficient mechanism for moving droplets of an appropriate size range to their targets over a wide area with ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying.
Himel (1974) made a distinction between exo-drift (the transfer of spray out of the target area) and endo-drift, where the active ingredient (AI) in droplets falls into the target area, but does not reach the biological target. Endo-drift is volumetrically more significant and may therefore cause greater ecological contamination (e.g. where chemical pesticides pollute ground water).
[edit] Public concern
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Although there has been much public concern and research into spray drift, several studies[which?] have concluded that point source pollution (e.g. pesticides entering bodies of water following spillage of concentrate or rinsate) can cause greatest environmental harm[citation needed].
[edit] See also
- Aerial application
- Environmental issues with agriculture
- Environmental protection
- Farmworker justice
- Nonpoint source pollution
- Pesticide
- Pesticide application
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Pesticide Spray and Dust Drift". Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/spraydrift.htm. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ "Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Pesticide Problems". Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Pesticide Problems. CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation. http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/comguide/index.htm. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ Hewitt, A.J., Spray drift: impact of requirements to protect the environment, Crop Protection 19 (2000) p 623-627
[edit] Notes
- Himel, C.M. (1974) Analytical methodology in ULV. In: Pesticide application by ULV methods British Crop Protection Council Monograph No. 11, 112-119.
- Matthews G.A. (2006) Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment Blackwell, Oxford
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- EarthJustice - health impacts of pesticide drift in rural farming community
- Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)- "Advancing alternatives to pesticides worldwide"
- International Pesticide Application Research Centre (IPARC)
