Pesticides in the Environment | Tennessee Approval #TDA-116625

Instructor: Gene Merkl

Applicators and the public share concerns about how pesticides may harm the environment. Initially, hazards to humans were the primary reason the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to classify a pesticide as a restricted-use product. Now, more and more pesticide labels list environmental effects (such as contamination of groundwater or toxicity to birds or aquatic organisms) as reasons for restriction. Anyone who uses a pesticide—indoors or outdoors, in a city or on a farm—must consider how that pesticide affects the environment.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

• Describe how pesticide applications can affect the environment.
• Explain how to prevent pesticide drift, runoff, and movement to nontarget areas.
• Discuss how to prevent pesticide residue accumulation associated with mixing, loading, and equipment washing.