Pesticide Exam Vocabulary

Directed Application

A precise application to a specific area or site, such as a basal application to woody plants or a crack and crevice treatment in a building.

Action Threshold

A predetermined level of pest infestation or damage at which some type of pest management action must be taken.

Application Rate

The amount of pesticide applied to a site; usually expressed as a liquid or dry measure per unit area.

Chemigation

The application of pesticides or fertilizers to a target site in irrigation water. Also known as injector systems when used in greenhouses.

Crack and Crevice Application

The application of small amounts of pesticide into cracks and crevices in buildings such as along baseboards and in cabinets.

Biological Degradation

The breakdown of chemicals due to the activity of living organisms, especially bacteria and fungi in the soil

Active Ingredient

The chemical or chemicals in a product responsible for pesticidal activity.

Biological Control

The control of pests using predators, parasites, and disease-causing organisms. It may be naturally occurring or introduced.

Broadcast Application

The uniform application of a pesticide or other material over an entire field or area.

Chlorosis

The yellowing of a plant's normally green tissue.

Cholinesterase

A chemical catalyst (enzyme) found in humans and many other animals that regulates the activity of nerve impulses by deactivating the chemical neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Aerosol

A chemical stored in a container under pressure. An extremely fine mist is produced when the material, dissolved in a liquid, is released into the air.

Defoliant

A chemical that initiates the premature drop of leaves, often as an aid in harvesting a crop.

Anticoagulant

A chemical that prevents normal blood clotting; the active ingredient in some rodenticides.

Antidote

A practical treatment used to counteract the effects of pesticide poisoning or some other poison in the body.

Commercial Applicator

A certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of pesticides for purposes other than those covered under a private applicator certification.

Anti-Transpirant

A chemical applied to a plant to reduce the rate of transpiration or water loss.

Desiccant

A chemical that promotes drying or loss of moisture from leaves or other plant parts. Also, a chemical that removes water from arthropods or destroys the waxy covering that protects these organisms from water loss.

Bactericide

A chemical used to control bacteria.

Avicide

A chemical used to kill or repel birds.

Activated Charcoal

A finely ground charcoal that absorbs chemicals.

Bait

A food or other substance used to attract a pest to a pesticide or trap.

Aquifer

A geologic formation from which groundwater can be drawn. An aquifer can be a layer of sand, gravel, or other soil materials, or a section of bedrock with fractures through which water can flow.

Carbamates

A group of pesticides commonly used for control of insects, mites, fungi, and weeds. N-methyl carbamate insecticides, miticides, and nematicides are cholinesterase inhibitors.

Anti-Siphoning Device

A hose attachment designed to prevent backflow of a pesticide mix from the spray tank into a water source.

Allergic Effects/Allergy

A hypersensitivity to a specific substance, often called the allergen. An allergy may cause dermatitis, blisters, or hives; it could also cause illness, asthma, or life-threatening shock. Often the entire body is affected. Pesticide allergy symptoms are similar to other allergy symptoms - reddening and itching of the eyes, respiratory discomfort, and asthma-like symptoms.

Common Name

A name given to a pesticide by a recognized committee on pesticide nomenclature. Many pesticides are known by a number of trade or brand names, but each active ingredient has only one recognized common name. Example: the common name for Sevin insecticide is carbaryl.

Certified Applicator

A person qualified to apply or supervise the application of restricted-use pesticides.

Boom

A pesticide application device attached to a truck, tractor, aircraft, or other vehicle, or held by hand, to which multiple spray nozzles are attached.

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon

A pesticide containing chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen. Many are persistent in the environment. Examples: chlordane, DDT, methoxychlor. Also called organochlorines.

Biopesticide

A pesticide derived from naturally occurring materials.

Botanical Pesticide

A pesticide produced from naturally occurring chemicals in plants. Examples: nicotine, pyrethrum, and rotenone.

Curative Pesticide

A pesticide that can inhibit or kill a disease-causing organism after it is established in the plant or animal.

Adulterated Pesticide

A pesticide that does not conform to the specified standard or quality as documented on its label or labeling.

Broad-Spectrum Pesticide

A pesticide that is effective against a wide range of pests.

Acaricide

A pesticide used to control mites and ticks. A miticide is a type of acaricide.

Algaecide (Algicide)

A pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae.

Annual

A plant that completes its life cycle in one year.

Biennial

A plant that completes its life cycle in two years.

Corrosive Poison

A poison containing a strong acid or base that will severely burn the skin, mouth, stomach, or respiratory tract.

Adjuvant

A substance added to a pesticide to improve its effectiveness or safety. Same as additive. Examples: penetrants, spreader-stickers, and wetting agents.

Carcinogen

A substance or agent able to produce malignant tumors (cancer).

Attractant

A substance or device to lure insects or other pests to a trap or poison bait.

Air-Blast Sprayer

A type of pesticide application equipment that uses a large volume of air moving at high speed to break up and disperse spray droplets from the nozzles.

Arachnid

A wingless arthropod with two body regions and four pairs of jointed legs. Spiders, ticks, and mites are arachnids.

Buffers

Adjuvants used to retard chemical degradation of some pesticides by lowering the pH of alkaline water and maintaining the pH within a narrow range even with the addition of acidic or alkaline materials.

Activator

An adjuvant added to a pesticide to increase its toxicity.

Compatibility Agent

An adjuvant used to enhance the mixing of two or more pesticide products and/or fertilizers.

Defoaming Agent

An adjuvant used to reduce the foaming of a spray mixture due to agitation.

Atropine (Atropine Sulfate)

An antidote used to treat organophosphates and carbamate poisoning.

Band Application

An application of a pesticide or other material in or beside a crop row rather than over the entire field.

Basal Application

An application to plant stems or trunks at or just above the ground line.

Acute Exposure

An exposure to a single dose of pesticide.

Acute Effect

An illness that occurs shortly after exposure to a pesticide.

Containment Pad

An impermeable pad used for mixing and loading pesticides and cleaning equipment that is designed to catch spills, leaks, overflows, and wash water for reuse or disposal.

Carrier

An inert liquid, solid, or gas added to an active ingredient to make a pesticide formulation. A carrier is also the material, usually water or oil, used to dilute the formulated product for application.

Acute Toxicity

An injury or illness produced from a single pesticide exposure. LD50 and LC50 are common indicators of the degree of acute toxicity.

Beneficial Insect

An insect that is useful or helpful to humans. Examples are pollinators, parasites, and predators of pests.

Arthropod

An invertebrate animal characterized by a jointed body and limbs and usually a hard body covering that is molted at intervals. Insects, mites, and crayfish are arthropods.

Diluent

Any inert liquid, solid, or gaseous material that is combined with a pesticide active ingredient during the manufacturing process. Also, the water, petroleum product, or other liquid in which the formulated product is mixed before application. Also referred to as the carrier.

Contact Pesticide

Any pesticide that controls pest organisms upon contact.

Antibiotic

Chemical produced by a microorganism that is toxic to other microorganisms. Examples: streptomycin and penicillin.

Dermal

Pertaining to the skin.

Alkaline

Having a pH greater than 7; also called basic.

Acidic

Having a pH less than 7

Delayed Toxicity

Illnesses or injuries that do not appear immediately after exposure to pesticides. The effects generally occur between 24 hours and several days after exposure.

Contact Effects

Injury at the point of contact, including skin discoloration and irritation (dermatitis) such as itching, redness, rashes, blisters, and burns. Also, swelling, stinging, and burning of the eyes, nose, mouth, or throat are contact effects.

Bacteria

Microscopic organisms, some of which are capable of producing diseases in plants and animals.

Broadleaf Plants

Plants with broad, rounded, or flattened leaves with netted veins. Examples: dandelions and roses. Different from the narrow, bladelike leaves with parallel veins of grasses, sedges, rushes, and onions.

Abiotic

Related to non-living factors, such as air pollutants, wind, water, and temperature.

Algae

Relatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and contain chlorophyll.

Chemtrec

The Chemical Transportation Emergency Center. It supports a toll-free number that provides 24-hour information for chemical emergencies such as a spill, leak, fire, or accident: 1-800-424-9300.

Dermal Toxicity

The ability of a pesticide to cause injury to a human or animal when absorbed through the skin.

Bioaccumulation

The ability of organisms to accumulate or store chemicals in their tissues.

Chronic Toxicity

The ability of small amounts of pesticide from repeated, prolonged exposure to cause injury.

Concentration

The amount of active ingredient in a given volume or weight of formulated product.

Dermatitis

The inflammation, itching, irritation, or occurrence of a rash after exposure to a chemical.

Days to Slaughter

The minimum number of days permitted by law between the last pesticide application and the date the animal is slaughtered.

Days to Harvest

The minimum number of days permitted by law between the last pesticide application and the harvest date. Same as preharvest interval.

Absorption

The movement of a chemical into plants, animals (including humans), microorganisms, or soil.

Back-Siphoning

The movement of a liquid pesticide mixture from a spray tank through the filling hose into the water source.

Causal Organism

The organism (pathogen) that produces a given disease.

Diagnosis

The positive identification of a problem and its cause.

Deposit

The presence of a pesticide on a treated surface after application.

Contamination

The presence of an unwanted substance in or on a plant, animal, soil, water, air, or structure.

Degradation

The process by which a chemical compound is broken down to simpler compounds by the action of microorganisms, water, air, sunlight, or other agents. Degradation products are usually, but not always, less toxic than the original compound.

Agitation

The process of stirring or mixing in a sprayer.

Adsorption

The process whereby chemicals are held or bound to a surface by physical or chemical attraction. Clay and high-organic soils tend to adsorb pesticides.

Biomagnification

The process whereby some organisms accumulate chemical residues in higher concentrations than those found in the organisms they consume.

Antagonism

The reduction of pesticide activity when two or more different pesticides are mixed together.

Brand Name

The registered or trade name, number, or designation given to a specific pesticide product or device by the manufacturer or formulator.

Danger-Poison

The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as highly toxic. This signal word is also associated with pesticide products that are corrosive or highly irritating to skin and eyes.

Caution

The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as slightly toxic; these pesticides have an oral LD50 greater than 500mg/kg and a dermal LD50 greater than 2,000mg/kg.

Chemical Name

The technical name of the active ingredient(s) found in the formulated product. This complex name is derived from the chemical structure of the active ingredient.

Calibrate/Calibration

To properly adjust equipment; to determine the correct amount of material to be applied to the target area.

Decontaminate

To remove or degrade a chemical residue from the skin or a surface.

Detoxify

To render a pesticide active ingredient or other poisonous chemical harmless.

Cross-Resistance

When a pest population that is already resistant to one pesticide becomes resistant to a related chemical with a similar mode of action.

Cross-Contamination

When one pesticide accidentally mixes with another pesticide, usually in an improperly cleaned sprayer or in storage because of the airborne movement of a volatile pesticide.

Compatible

When two or more chemicals can be mixed together without reducing the effectiveness or characteristics of any individual chemical in the mixture, they are said to be compatible.