Pesticide Use and Safety For the Homeowner

Transcription

1 Pesticide Use and Safety For the Homeowner Master Gardener Training Chuck Schuster, Extension Educator University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office Copyright C.F.Schuster 2009

2 Understanding the Importance of Pesticide Use and Safety Pesticides have a place in some production systems. Pesticides can be used safely for both home and gardens. Organic methods are not necessarily better, they are just different.

3 Organic Pesticides Even if a product is considered to be organic, it is still a pesticide. It is important to be careful when using any pesticide, even organic or natural pesticides. Just because a product is labeled as organic, or natural, it does not mean that it is not toxic. Some organic pesticides are as toxic, or even more toxic, than many synthetic chemical pesticides. Organic pesticides have specific modes of action, just as do synthetic pesticides.

4 Organic Pesticides While some organic pesticides may be nontoxic or are only slightly toxic to people, they may be very toxic to other animals. For instance, the organic pesticide ryania is very toxic to fish. Some organic pesticides may be toxic to beneficial insects, such as honeybees, if they are combined with other materials, such as combining pyrethrins with rotenone.

5 BIOPESTICIDES Biopesticides are an important group of pesticides that can reduce pesticide risks. Biopesticides, in general: Have a narrow target range and a very specific mode of action; Are slow acting; Have relatively critical application times; Suppress, rather than eliminate, a pest population; Have limited field persistence and a short shelf life; Are safer to humans and the environment than conventional pesticides; Present no residue problems.

6 BIOPESTICIDES Microbial insecticides are another kind of biopesticide. They come from naturally-occurring or genetically altered bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses or protozoans. They suppress pests by: Producing a toxin specific to the pest; Causing a disease; Preventing establishment of other microorganisms through competition; or Other modes of action.

7 BIOPESTICIDES An example of a microbial pesticide is Bacillus thuringiensis, or "Bt." Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that is toxic to the larvae of several species of insects but not toxic to non-target organisms. Bt can be applied to plant foliage or incorporated into the genetic material of crops (GMO). Bacillus thuringiensis, as discovered, is toxic to the caterpillars (larvae) of moths and butterflies. Several strains of Bt have been developed and now strains are available that control fly larvae. These can be used in controlling mosquitoes and blackflies.

8 Pesticides can create negative feelings. Public awareness and appropriate knowledge often create problems that can be worked through Pesticides use can be cause of concern.

9 Why do We Care? Human Exposure: water, food, environmental. Environmental Impacts: effects on non-target animals and plants

10 Why do We Care? Should concern be limited to just non organic pesticides?

11 Pest Use, A look Back in History 2500 BC: Earliest known use of chemicals as a pesticide Sulfur was burned to control insects and mites 14 th Century: Black Plague, caused by rat fleas. Control of the rodents reduced the incidence of the disease

12 Pest Controls Through History Plant derived insecticides included nicotine used to control aphids Pyrethrins: to control a wide variety of insects DDT: used during WWII to control insect related diseases synthetic pesticides: created the modern culture of pesticides which are inexpensive to use yet effective

13 Principles of Pest Control What is a pest? a plant or animal that is detrimental to man and one that pesters or annoys Insects, disease causing organisms, weeds, birds and other mammals from rats to deer are potential pests. Pest - something which competes with humans and desired plants and animals for food and water. Pests may spread disease or simply be an annoyance. -cide defined by Webster s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary as kill or killer Pest Killer

14 Contemporary Concerns Plant Loss over the past 30 years, losses from all pests appear to have remained constant losses due to weeds may have decreased losses due to insects may have close to doubled New insects continue to move into areas they were not previously found. What new insects do we have?

15 Contemporary Concerns Costs The prices and cost to apply commercial pesticides has increased over the years. Many pesticides are petroleum based, research and testing costs increase each year.

16 Integrated Pest Management IPM can improve the success rate of pest control programs and can reduce some of the negative effects. IPM can reduce the need for pesticides (Organic or Synthetic) in general.

17 Integrated Pest Management Negative Effects of Pesticides might include. Destruction of Beneficial Insects (good guys) Pests that Become Resistant Potential Environmental Issues Potential Health Related Issues

18 Integrated Pest Management Pest Identification To identify and control pests you need to know: Physical features of the pests Development and biology Characteristics of the damage they cause Your Control Goal

19 Integrated Pest Management Pest Control Goals Prevention- keeping a pest from becoming a problem Suppression- reducing pest numbers or damage to an acceptable level Eradication- destroying an entire pest population

20 Thresholds Levels of pest populations when pest control action is taken to prevent pests from causing injury or harm Action Thresholds Esthetic Health Economic

21 Integrated Pest Management Pest Monitoring Areas to be protected should be monitored regularly Monitoring involves walking on the wild side - getting into the landscape/garden/turf and evaluating the plant material. Regular monitoring can answer these questions

22 Integrated Pest Management Pest Monitoring cont. what kind of pests are present? Insect, Weed, and or Disease. Abiotic Problems (what is this)

23 Integrated Pest Management Pest Monitoring cont. What kind of pests are present? What Type of Damage is the pest generating? Is the damage seen a characteristic of that pest? ID the pest first!

24 Integrated Pest Management Pest Monitoring cont. What kind of pests are present? Are the numbers great enough to warrant control?

25 Integrated Pest Management Pest Monitoring cont. What kind of pests are present? Are the numbers great enough to warrant control? When is the right time to begin control?

26 Integrated Pest Management Pest Monitoring cont. What kind of pests are present? Are the numbers great enough to warrant control? When is the right time to begin control? Have the control efforts successfully reduced the numbers of pests?

27 Integrated Pest Management Methods of Control Natural Control Climate: weather conditions Natural Enemies: birds, insects, fish, mammals Geographic Barriers: mountains, bodies of water Food and Water Supply: availability Shelter: hiding places

28 Integrated Pest Management Methods of Control continued Applied Controls Resistant Host Varieties: Bt and Round Up Ready, genetically selected to be resistant also. Biological Controls: parasites, predators, pathogens Cultural Controls: crop rotation, row widths Mechanical Control: traps, fences, light, heat Sanitation: cleanliness Chemical Controls: growth regulators, pesticides

29 Why do Pest Controls Fail? Resistance to Pesticides Resistance develops when pesticides kill the majority of pests, but some survive The survivors have some sort of defense mechanism that makes them immune These pests then reproduce and pass the resistance factors to their offspring

30 Pest Control Failures Recognizing Resistance Resistance can be recognized by: Increased difficulty controlling the pest Increasing damage by a formerly minor pest Increasing trouble with insect-transmitted diseases

31 Watch your time

32 Pest Control Failures Other Control Failures Incorrect pesticide dosage Incorrectly identified pest Incorrect application period *life cycle stage *pest not present at time of application

33 Pesticides Before we can use a pesticide, one must understand pesticides. What do they control What don t they control!!! Safety factors to consider Options for selection

34 Types of Pesticides Antifoulants- control fouling organisms on boat hulls Avicides- control pest birds Bactericides- control bacteria Fungicides- control fungus Herbicides- control weeds and other undesirable plants Insecticides- control insects and related arthropods Miticides- kill mites Molluscicides- kill snails and slugs Rodenticides- kill rodents

35 Types of Pesticides cont. Not defined as pesticides but regulated: Defoliants: cause leaves or foliage to drop Desiccants: promote drying or loss of moisture Growth Regulators: substances other than fertilizer or food that alter the growth and development of a plant or animal

36 Pesticide Formulations Pesticides come in many different formulations. Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC or E) Invert Emulsions Solutions (S) Ultra-Low-Volume Concentrates (ULV) Flowables (FL or F) Dusts (D) Wettable Powders (WP or W)

37 Formulations, cont. Soluble Powders/Water-Soluble Powders (SP or WSP) Granules (G) Pellets (P) Baits Water-Dispersible Granules/Dry Flowables(WDG or DF) Microencapsulated Pesticides (M)

38 Formulations, cont. Aerosols Fumigants Impregnates

39 Adjuvants Chemicals added to increase effectiveness or safety Most common adjuvants are surfactants- surface active ingredients that alter the dispersing, spreading, and wetting properties of spray droplets

40 Pesticide Incompatibility Physical-2 or more pesticides mixed resulting in an unsprayable mixture, i.e. excessive foaming, curdling Chemical-effectiveness of compounds destroyed, i.e. adding high ph materials (lime) to the mixture Phytotoxic-product mixtures injure plants, either tank mixes or separate applications Placement-placing chemicals where they are most effective Timing-applying during correct life-cycle Potentiation- mixing chemicals that increases toxicity

41 Pesticide Labeling EPA Approval All pesticides sold in the United States must be reviewed and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Each pesticide has an EPA registration number.

42 Pesticides All pesticides, according to law, can only be used EXACTLY according to label directions. Be sure to carefully read the label of ANY pesticide you use and follow the instructions exactly as they are written. Be sure you use all pesticide products only when and where the label says they can be used.

43 Pesticide Labeling cont. Classification Of Pesticides General Use Pesticide - a pesticide that is not likely to harm humans or the environment when used according to the label directions. Restricted Use Pesticides a pesticide that may cause harm to humans or the environment even when used according to the label directions. These pesticides must be used under the supervision of a licensed certified applicator.

44 Pesticide Labeling Parts of the label Brand Name Ingredient statement : a list of what is in the product, this must be the official chemical name or a common name. Registration and Establishment Numbers

45 Pesticide Labeling Parts of the label, cont. Name and address of the manufacturer Net contents: how much is in the container Type of pesticide: a short statement indicates in general terms what the product will control i.e: insecticide for the control of certain insects on fruits, nuts, and ornamentals

46 Pesticide Labeling Parts of the label, cont. Type of formulation Restricted use designation: if the pesticide is classified as restricted use, the reason will be noted on the label.

47 Parts of the label, cont. Pesticide Labeling Precautionary Statement SIGNAL WORDS Danger - Peligro: a highly toxic pesticide Poison -Veneno: all highly toxic pesticides that can cause acute illness will have a poison label Warning - Aviso: this product is moderately likely to cause acute illness Caution - Precausion: this product is slightly toxic or relatively non toxic

48 Pesticide Labeling Parts of the label, cont. Statement of Practical Treatment First Aid: how to respond to an emergency exposure Hazards to human and domestic animals acute effects statement: which method of entry you must particularly protect and what specific action you need to take to avoid acute effects

49 Pesticide Labeling Parts of the label, cont. Statement of Practical Treatment Delayed Effects Statement Allergic Effects Statement

50 Pesticide Labeling Parts of the label, cont. Directions For Use ( Instructions on how the pesticide is to be used) Entry statement: when a field can be entered after application of this pesticide Storage and disposal: proper methods of storage of the pesticide, and methods if they apply for disposal of containers and leftover pesticide

51 Parts of the label, cont. Pesticide Labeling Personal Protective Equipment Statement: a list of the minimum personal protective equipment you are required to use. these may include gloves, eye protection, apron, or respirator Environmental Hazards Physical or Chemical Hazards

52 Parts of the label, cont. Pesticide Labeling Personal Protective Equipment Statement always protect yourself, no matter how safe the pesticide is choose chemical resistant materials (clothing, shoes, gloves, hats)

53 Pesticides and Human Health Exposure: how pesticides enter the body Skin: Dermal Lungs: Inhalation Mouth: Oral Eyes: via the sclera (white of the eye)

54 Pesticides and Human Health Dermal most common route of exposure from splashing, spills, drift prevent by wearing correct clothing

55 Pesticides and Human Health Inhalation from breathing the vapors or mist when applying Selection of respirators: For General Use Pesticides Dust or Paint Mask

56 Pesticides and Human Health Inhalation Selection of respirators: For Restricted Use Pesticides The Label will give you specific directions on selection

57 Pesticides and Human Health Oral from swallowing. never place pesticides in an unlabeled container or a used food container.

58 Pesticides and Human Health Eyes from splashing or drift Splashing often occurs when mixing, using concentrated material

59 Personal Protective Equipment Protect the skin: check the label for required PPE, always use it. Protect the eyes: where eye protection when mixing, read the label to determine if eye protection is required while spraying.

60 Personal Protective Equipment Protect your lungs: check the label to determine if any PPE is required while mixing and spraying wear the proper type of respirator, clean it after use

61 Personal Protective Equipment Replace protective gear when it shows any wear replace respirator cartridges when it becomes difficult to breathe replace other protective gear when it leaks or shows signs of wear

62 Storage Where are pesticides most often stored in the home? Where should they be stored?

63 This is a well head pump building on a farm Not a good example of pesticide storage.

64 Principles Of Pesticides QUESTIONS? Copyright C.F.Schuster 2009