Horticulture Cluster Unit A Horticulture CD

Problem Area 5 Integrated Pest Management

Lesson 6: Managing Environmental Impact of Pesticides

Interest Approach Where does your water come from? Is it safe? What could be in it? Lead? Radon? Lime? Pesticides?

Interest Approach How do we know if the water is safe? How are we able to test water? How can we keep water clean? Who is in charge of testing water? Who is in charge of testing chemicals and keeping harmful compounds out of use?

Interest Approach What do you use that could contaminate the water supply? Laundry soaps. Petroleum products. Home & Garden chemicals.

Student Objectives 1. Identify the environmental concerns involved with pesticide use. 2. Explain pesticide persistence and its impact on the environment. 3. Explain proper disposal of surplus pesticides and empty containers.

Terms Accumulate Accumulative pesticides Biodegradable Drift Leaching Nontarget area Persistent pesticides Pesticide persistence Rapid decomposers Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Rinsate Surface runoff Triple-rinse method

Why is safe chemical use important? Environmental concerns Human safety Sustained land use Pure food supplies Grass Filter Strip University of Florida

What Are the Environmental Concerns of Pesticide Use? Non-target area contamination A.Drift B.Leaching C.Surface runoff

What Are the Environmental Concerns of Pesticide Use? Pesticide & container disposal A.Pesticides are shipped with as little packaging as is safe B.This packaging is highly contaminated C.Can we recycle these containers?

Pesticide & container disposal Pesticide quantities that go unused are likely to end up contaminating the area A.These items set until the packaging fails B.Compounds slowly leak or spill out of damaged containers

The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA)

What Are the Environmental Concerns of Pesticide Use? Persistence A.Biodegradable – will the compound be gone in a year? B.Accumulation – will it be rising in levels of contamination

What is persistence and its impact on the environment? Rapid decomposers – become harmless quickly Compounds that are “deactivated” What can biodegrade chemicals? –Sun –Bacteria –Other chemicals in the soil

What is persistence and its impact on the environment? Accumulative Pesticides – build up in organisms May reach harmful levels Some classes of pesticides can be tested for

What is persistence and its impact on the environment? Persistent pesticides – compounds that remain for an extended time Persistence is good as a pesticide for its extended activity Persistence is bad as a pollutant Persistent chemicals have a greater chance of moving to a non-target area

What is the proper disposal procedure? Only keep small amounts Small amounts (household quantities) may be buried in approved landfills May also be returned to the manufacture

What is the proper disposal procedure? Large amounts must be removed by a licensed company Regulations vary by state These materials are then disposed of in a proper fashion – incineration or other methods for the specific material

Container Disposal 1. Drain the container into the spray tank. Hold the container in a vertical position for at least 30 seconds. 2. Add water until the container is about ¼ full. Close the container. 3. Shake or roll the container to rinse all interior areas; then drain the remaining liquid (rinsate) into the spray tank.

Container Disposal 4. Repeat the rinse and drain procedure two more times. 5. Puncture plastic or metal triple-rinsed containers to prevent reuse. 6. Crush the container to reduce volume.

Triple Rinse!

Step Two

Step Three

Step Four

Review!

What Are the Environmental Concerns Involved With Pesticide Use? Non-Target Contamination Pesticide Persistence Pesticide & Container Disposal

Explain Pesticide Persistence and Its Impact on the Environment Biodegradable 1.Rapid decomposers 2.Persistent Compounds Accumulation 1.Accumulative Pesticides 2.Non-Accumulating

Explain Proper Disposal Triple Rinse Used Containers Store Only Limited Amounts of Chemicals Return to the Manufacturer