PSEP Questions

Explain the difference between accumulative and persistent pesticides?

Accumulative pesticides slowly build up in the body of animals. Persistent pesticides remain in the environment without breaking down.

What is an aquifer and why is it important?

An aquifer is a geologic formation of permeable rock, sand or gravel that stores large amounts of water. Many people use water from aquifers for drinking.

Is it necessary for every pesticide to be registered before it is sold or used?

Yes. Every pesticide is registered federally by EPA.

At least what margin of safety ("safety factor") is used in setting tolerances?

100 times.

Who may supervise apprentices performing commercial pesticide applications?

A fully certified commercial pesticide applicator can supervise an apprentice. Technicians may not supervise apprentices.

What is the definition of private pesticide application?

A private pesticide application of any pesticide for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity.

The effects of which type of exposure--acute or chronic--can be more easily detected and studied?

Acute effects can be more easily detected and studied than chronic effects.

Name and define the two types of pesticide exposure.

Acute exposure refers to a one-time contact with a pesticide. Chronic exposure refers to a repeated contact with a pesticide.

Explain the difference between acute toxicity and chronic toxicity.

Acute toxicity refers to how poisonous a pesticide is to humans, animals, or plants, after a single exposure to the chemical. Chronic toxicity refers to the ability of a pesticide to do damage as a result of many repeated exposures, over a prolonged period of time.

Name 4 categories of commercial application.

Agricultural plant and animal. forest pest control, ornamental and turf pest control, seed treatment, aquatic pest control, right-of-way pest control, industrial, institutional, public health pest control, regulatory pest control

What unique ability does air have which is the cause of pesticide drift?

Air can carry pesticide particles over long distances to drift and settle off target.

What is an endangered species?

An endangered species is a plant or animal which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

What is a commercial applicator?

Any applicator applying pesticides except as defined in private or residential application.

Who needs to be certified?

Anyone using "restricted use" pesticides

How long must private applicators keep records of restricted use pesticide use?

At least three years.

Who must submit a report to the DEC that details pesticide application activities required by the Pesticide Reporting Law?

Certified commercial pesticide applicators and technicians must submit an annual report according to the Pesticide Reporting Law. Private applicators are not required to report. Annual Reports must be sent to DEC by February 1 of each year, even if the applicator made no applications.

What is the definition of commercial pesticide application?

Commercial application of pesticides is defined as any application of any pesticide, except as defined in private or residential application of pesticides

What pesticides must commercial keep records for and for how long?

Commercial applicators must keep records of all pesticides used, both general and restricted use. for three years.

Define on-site direct supervision.

During on-site direct supervision, the certified pesticide applicator is physically present at the site of application and in voice contact with the person being supervised.

If EPA determines that a pesticide poses a risk to workers, what options for regulation does EPA have?

EPA can change reentry intervals, change application rates, formulation type, require posting of signs warning workers that treatment has occurred.

If EPA determines that a pesticide poses a risk to consumers what options for regulation does EPA have?

EPA can require longer preharvest intervals, changes in manufacturing processes, and reduction in application rates or frequencies. EPA can also cancel or suspend the use of a pesticide.

FIFRA governs the licensing or registration of pesticide products. Before a pesticide may be marketed in the U.S. what must EPA do?

EPA must review the application for registration, approve each use pattern and assign a product registration number.

What are some of the types of information that the Environmental Protection Agency reviews before registering a pesticide?

EPA reviews toxicity studies, wildlife and environmental studies, breakdown and residue studies, chemical studies, etc.

Which federal agency sets food tolerances for pesticides? Which federal agency enforces food tolerances for pesticides?

EPA sets food tolerances; FDA enforces food tolerances.

What is the full name and acronym of the federal agency mandated to regulate pesticides?

Environmental Protection Agency (Full), EPA (acronym).

Discuss two types of penalties defined by FIFRA for applicators that violate the law.

FIFRA provides civil penalties when the violation of a regulation was unin-tentional and criminal penalties when the law was knowingly violated.

Which federal agency determines what species are endangered?

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the Department of the Interior.

What is the name given to the complex prey-predator relationship in which all animals (including man) take part?

Food chain.

What precautions should be taken to avoid getting pesticides in the mouth by mistake?

Hands should be properly washed after applying pesticides, especially before eating or smoking. Pesticides should never be stored in any container that could be mistaken for a food or beverage container.

How can triple-rinsed used pesticide containers be disposed of?

In an EPA approved sanitary landfill.

What is an endangered species?

It is a species on the brink of extinction throughout all or a large portion of its range.

When are Days to Slaughter or Days to Harvest important? What are they for?

It is the least number of days between the last pesticide application and the harvest or slaughter day. To assure that the residue on the commodities are under the set tolerances.

What does LD50 mean? What about LC50? Explain how it is used.

LD50 means 'Lethal Dose Fifty'. It refers to the amount of a chemical that causes death in half, or 50%, of the experimental animals exposed to it by a particular route of exposure. The 'Lethal Concentration Fifty', or LC50 of a pesticide is the amount of chemical in the air that causes half, or 50% of test animals to die when they inhale it.

Acute oral toxicity and acute dermal toxicity are measured in LD50s. The higher the LD50 the ___________(more or less) toxic the pesticide.

Less. The higher the LD50 the less toxic the pesticide.

How can long-lasting residues be desirable? Undesirable?

Long-lasting residues are desirable because of long-lasting protection, less frequent application, and are economical. Undesirable effects of residues are: hazards to consumers, workers, or they may interfere with future crop production.

What are some of the factors that determine the hazard of a chemical?

Many factors besides a pesticide's actual toxicity can make it hazardous. These include: the skill of the applicator; the "target" involved; the type of pesticide; the qualities of the exposed individual; the formulation chosen; the other chemicals involved in the formulation; and the concentration and dosage used.

At what level is man in the food chain?

Near the top of the food chain.

If a pesticide is found to jeopardize an endangered species, what changes may happen to the pesticide label?

New label language may contain specific restrictions or it may direct pesticide applicators to read an Endangered Species bulletin with directions for the use of the pesticide where endangered species may be affected.

Do LD50s and LC50s give the exact toxicity of each pesticide?

No, they simply tell us how much of the chemical it takes to kill half of the test animals.

Is a highly toxic material always very hazardous?

No. A highly toxic pesticide may be considered hazardous because of the risk that it poses to the public, wildlife, or the environment. However, with proper handling, a highly toxic pesticide could actually pose a low risk or low hazard.

Can a food or feed crop have more than the set tolerance of a pesticide on it and still be legally marketed?

No. It is subject to condemnation and seizure by federal and state regulatory agencies.

Can fish and other wildlife survive great changes in their natural environment?

No. Sometimes even small changes in their environment can greatly reduce their chances for survival.

What is a nonaccumulative pesticide?

Nonaccumulative pesticides are ones that do not build up in the bodies of animals or in the tissues of plants.

Which pesticide forms(oil, paste, or water-based)are most likely to be absorbed through the skin.

Oil or paste pesticide forms are mostlikely to be absorbed through the skin.

What types of pesticide applications require on-site direct supervision of certified technicians?

On-site direct supervision is required when certified technicians are applying termiticides, fumigants, aquatic pesticides to surface water, or pesticides with a label requiring on-site supervision.

Name four of the eight factors that influence drift.

Particle size, nozzle design and orientation, pressure, temperature, humidity, evaporation, height of release and air movement.

What are two possible consequences of pesticide drift onto forage and pasture-land or into drinking water?

People, pets and livestock can be hurt by pesticide exposure. Pasture grasses could be destroyed. Milk or meat could have illegal pesticide residues if cattle eat contaminated forage. Water may become too contaminated to drink, aquatic organisms may be destroyed and the cost of cleaning will be very high.

What is pesticide exposure?

Pesticide exposure is defined as coming in contact with the pesticide.

How can the use of pesticides affect wildlife?

Pesticide-kills of mammals, birds and fish have occurred. Pesticide applications can also alter habitat or reduce food supply, thus injuring wildlife.

How do pesticides reach groundwater?

Pesticides applied correctly to a site may be moved downward with rain or irrigation water reaching the water table below. Pesticides may enter a well directly by spillage or back-siphonage, thus entering the groundwater directly.

Name and describe 6 different ways that pesticides can be toxic to humans.

Pesticides can: cause deformities in unborn offspring (teratogenic effects), cause cancer (carcinogenic effects), cause mutations (mutagenic effects), poison the nervous system (neurotoxicity), or block the natural defenses of the immune system (immunotoxicity). Pesticides can also have: local or systemic effects; immediate or delayed effects; reversible or irreversible effects; singular, additive, or synergistic effects.

What signal word(s) are required on the label for pesticides classified as: Relatively non-toxic? Highly toxic? Slightly toxic? Moderately toxic?

Pesticides that are categorized as relatively non-toxic must bear the signal word "CAUTION!" on their labels. Those that are highly toxic must bear the signal words "DANGER" on their labels. Those that are considered slightly toxic must also state "CAUTION!" on their labels. And those that are moderately toxic bear the label signal word "WARNING!"

How do predators accumulate high pesticide residues in their bodies?

Predators eating prey that are carrying accumulative pesticides can accumulate these pesticides as well.

The best protection against groundwater pollution is _____________.

Prevention.

How should pressure be changed to reduce liquid droplet drift?

Reduce pressure and increase the droplet size. Larger droplets drift less.

Applicators generate waste during normal work operations. List those that are "regulated waste" under RCRA.

Regulate waste includes unrinsed containers, excess pesticide and pesticide dilution, rinse water which contains a listed chemical and cannot be properly used.

What are regulations?

Regulations are interpretations of the law and have the force of law.

Which Act is administered by EPA to manage all hazardous waste?

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

Define Restricted Entry Interval

Restricted Entry Interval is the time immediately following application of a pesticide when unprotected workers may not enter the treated area.

How do pesticides reach streams and ponds to cause fish kills or make the water unfit?

Runoff, soil erosion and rainfall carry pesticides to water sources.

What is the act SARA III designed to do?

SARA Title III is designed to inform communities regarding hazardous chemicals located in the vicinity and addresses the need for community emergency response plans in the event of an accident.

What type(s) of toxicity are label signal words and warning statements based on?

Signal words and warning statements are based on a pesticide's LD50 and other measures of its toxicity, including its oral, inhalation, or dermal toxicity, as well as other local effects.

How many parts per million (ppm) is 6 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)?

Six milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) is the same as 6 parts per million (ppm), since a milligram is one millionth of a kilogram.

FIFRA allows states to establish standards. What kind of standards?

Stricter.

What is the full name and acronym for the law EPA uses to manage pesticides?

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (Full), FIFRA (acronym).

What type of pesticide application does the Neighbor Notification Law cover?

The Neighbor Notification Law covers both commercial and residential lawn applications.

Which agency administers the Hazard Communication Standard?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which is part of the Department of Labor.

What important piece of equipment protects an applicator from inhaling pesticides?

The appropriate respirator or self contained breathing apparatus.

When must a certified applicator provide a customer with a copy of the pesticide label?

The certified applicator must provide a label prior to making an application within or on the premises of a structure.

Which two routes of entry are likely to be the most important to the pesticide applicator?

The dermal and inhalation routes of entry are likely to be more important to the pesticide applicator than the oral route.

What is the definition of pesticide dose? Explain the difference between exposure and dose.

The dose is the quantity of a substance that a surface, plant, or animal is exposed to. Exposure is coming in contact with the pesticide..

Some areas of the body surface absorb pesticides more quickly than other areas. Name three areas which absorb pesticides quickly.

The eyes, ears, scalp and groin tend to absorb pesticides more quickly than other areas.

What is the difference between a deposit and a residue?

The pesticide which remains on the treated surface is called a deposit. A residue is a deposit which remains on the surface for an extended period of time.

What is the purpose of the tolerance program?

The purpose of the tolerance program is to ensure that U.S. consumers are not exposed to unsafe food-pesticide residue levels.

The regulations interpreting the Transportation Safety Act are contained in 49 CFR. What do these regulations cover?

The regulation in 49 CFR cover any safety aspect of transporting hazardous materials, including the packing, repacking, handling, describing, labeling, marking, placarding, and routing of such materials.

What information determines the setting of a tolerance?

The results of toxicity studies on animals and the environment.

Why should honey bees be protected?

Their work as pollinators is necessary for crop production.

Name three factors that affect the toxicity of a pesticide?

There are many factors that affect the toxicity of a pesticide. They include: its route of entry; the frequency and duration of exposure; the dose received; toxic characteristics inherent to the pesticide; etc.

Pesticides may enter the body in three different ways. Name them.

Through the skin (dermally), by ingestion (orally), or by breathing them (inhalation).

What is a tolerance? When must a tolerance be set?

Tolerance is the established maximum amount of residue which may remain on a food or feed crop. A tolerance must be set before the pesticide is registered for use on food or feed.

What is the definition of toxicity? Push this button to see answer

Toxicity is the capacity of a material to cause injury or poisoning to a living system, such as a human being, an animal, a lake, or a forest.

T or F. Can the DEC determine that a general use pesticide, as registered by EPA, be restricted use in NYS?

True.

T or F. Restricted use pesticides may only be sold or distributed by commercial permit holders in NYS.

True.

True or False. All pesticide businesses must register with the DEC.

True.

True or False. Commercial lawn application, as defined, includes trees or shrubs.

True.

What is a Private Applicator? Give some examples.

Uses or supervises the use of 'restricted use' pesticides on property owned or rented by himself or his employer. Farmers, floriculturists, orchardists, aquaculturists, nurserymen, sod growers, and other similar persons.

When a pesticide evaporates and moves off target, what is this called?

Vapor drift.

EPA regulations require warnings be given to workers. Discuss the warning requirements.

Warnings must be timely to the situation, may be given orally, by posting, or both, and should be given in the language that can be understood by the workers involved.

Briefly describe the water cycle.

Water falls to the earth as precipitation. The precipitation runs off the surface to become surface water. Water also seeps through the soil to become groundwater. Water goes back into the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration.

When are Negligible Residue Tolerances set?

When a very small residue is likely to be on food or feed at harvest.

When does a pesticide become a pollutant and potentially dangerous?

When pesticides drift off target or are applied over the dose recommended on the label, they are dangerous. Carelessness is a relevant factor in contributing to pollution of the environment.

Is there a difference between the toxicity and hazard of a substance? If so, explain the difference.

While they can be similar, there is a difference between toxicity and hazard. The toxicity of a substance is its characteristic ability to cause injury to a living system. On the other hand, hazard is the chance, or "risk" that danger or harm will come from the use of a pesticide.

Can some pesticides be as dangerous when they are absorbed through the skin as they are when they are taken orally?

Yes, some pesticides are just as dangerous when they contact the skin as they are when taken orally. Dermal exposure to pesticides can actually become oral exposure if there is not careful washing-up between pesticide work and eating or smoking.

Can food crops and animals contain pesticide residues even when they are not directly sprayed by the pesticide?

Yes. Due to indirect contact with a chemical.

Does the marketed food sometimes have less pesticide residue than the set tolerance? When?

Yes. Food may have no residues, may never have been treated, was at less than the maximum dose, and the residues may have degraded.

Can pesticide pollution actually aid the pests you are trying to destroy? How?

Yes. Pesticides can destroy the predators and parasites that naturally control pests.

Does FIFRA provide for prison terms for violators of the law?

Yes. Up to 30 days for private applicators and up to one year for commercial applicators.

When must you use a Backflow Prevention Device (BPD)

You must use a BPD when you add water from any water of the state to equipment that contains pesticides.

Who ultimately bears the responsibility of protecting endangered species from pesticides?

You, the applicator.

Pesticides must be used according to the directions and other information contained on the ______________, and any supplemental _____________ accompanying the pesticides.

product label, labeling