Review of Pesticide Use Hazards | Oregon Approval #66897

Instructor: Sarah Racine

This one-credit course, approved by the Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticides Program, offers instruction on the toxicity and dangers of pesticide use. Pesticides are hazardous chemicals that can harm non-target organisms (including humans) and the environment.

Every pesticide belongs to one of three categories according to its toxicity danger. These categories, and the factors that influence toxicity, govern the hazards pest managers face when applying pesticides. Detailed designations break down the use cases and pests targeted by each pesticide.

This course explains threats posed by pesticides to the environment and wildlife. Possible results of pesticide use include human exposure, injury to pets, water contamination, phytotoxicity in plants and other effects on non-target organisms in the environment. Become familiar with the signs of hazardous human exposure and methods for determining toxicity in animals.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize strategies to minimize excessive pesticide exposure risk to pets, plants and the environment.
• Explain pesticide toxicity and the different hazards of human pesticide exposure.
• State appropriate measures to take in case of pesticide accidents.
• Describe the characteristics of various pesticide formulations.