Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July, 2002
Pesticide Technology to
Reduce Risk (Liability)
Mike Weaver, Coordinator
Pesticide Programs
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Factors That Increase Risk
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Toxicity
» chemicals
» physical conditions
» human health factors
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Exposure (handler)
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mixing/loading
application
cleanup
storage/transport
disposal
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Exposure (workers/public)
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entering treated areas
movement off site
transport
mix/load/storage sites
disposal
spills
exposure to treated crops
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Areas Where Growers Can
Reduce Their Risks

Toxicity
» less toxic pesticides
» non-chemical
alternatives
» rate, dilution, formulation

Exposure (handler)
» use PPE
» use of advanced
packaging systems
» implement advanced
handling systems
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Exposure (workers/public)
» control access
» control runoff/leaching/drift
» change transportation
factors
» mix/load/storage sites
BMP’s
» minimize waste
» be prepared to handle spills
» avoid harvesting
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Today’s Topics
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Disposal and waste minimization
Advanced handling technology
» systems to reduce exposure, drift, waste
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Discussion of registered products based on:
» toxicity
» reduced risk formulations and packaging
» alternatives

Choosing personal protective equipment (PPE)
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Disposal Basics
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Avoid excess stored
inventories
Minimize excess pesticides
and rinsates
Avoid the need to dispose
of pesticide containers as
wastes
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Disposal Methods
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Storage
Reuse
Remediation
Recycling
Burial
Incineration
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Excess Pesticides
Buy only what you need for one season
 Calculate dilutions carefully
 Use all mixed pesticide as labeled
 Apply excess mix as labeled on site
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» can’t exceed rate and frequency
» comply with application directions
Return or give away excess products
 Add rinsates to tank
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Pesticide Wastes
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Excess pesticides and rinsates
must be disposed of as wastes
Sanitary landfills will take
rinsed containers only
Store wastes
» under RCRA guidelines
– small hazardous waste generator
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2.2lbs. (acute) / 2,300 lbs/month
farmer exemptions
Have wastes hauled
» commercial haulers
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Containers
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Use refillable or
returnable
containers
Recycle or
recondition
containers
Use soluble
packaging
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Container Design
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Redesigned to reduce
spills and enhance
handling
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no-”glug” openings
reduced weight
impact resistant
measure and pour spouts
closed systems
elimination of traditional
containers
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Container Contents
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Low rate technology
» ounces/acre
» smaller containers
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Reduced risk pesticides
» lower toxicity
» more flexible handling
» reduce number of
containers
» may eliminate some
products as hazardous
waste
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Returnable/Refillable Paks
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Mini-bulks and small
volume returnables
» ag. and specialty
» 15-110 gallon
– Novartis
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FarmPak/TurfPak
– Aqumix
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15 gallon
dilute or concentrate
closed systems
rights-of-way industry
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Recyclable and Reconditionable
Containers
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Must be properly rinsed
» metal
» plastic
– chipped and recycled
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Drums
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30 and 55 gallon
return to dealer
reconditioning
reuse
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Soluble Containers
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Vinyl-alcohol water soluble
films
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Water soluble “paks”
Gel paks
Effervescent tablets
Biodegradable containers
Bag-in-bag
Impregnated fabrics and
plastics
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Water Soluble Paks
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Reduced packaging
» paper outer shell
» non-hazardous waste
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Water soluble pouch
» polyvinyl alcohol
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Dry formulations
» water dispersible granules (WDG)
» wettable or soluble powders (WP or SP)
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Gel Paks
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Reduced packaging
» water soluble pouch
» supports mixtures
» non-hazardous waste
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Liquid formulation
» gel
– sensitive to impact
– water soluble
– self-sealing
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Effervescent Tablets
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Scored tablets
» cut dosages
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Dissolve in mix water
Prescribed amounts
» no mixing and loading of concentrates
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Impregnated Fabrics/Plastics
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Contained in pockets on
plastic or synthetic
landscape fabric
Used as mulches to
inhibit weed growth
Slow release from
pockets
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Handling Rinsates and Reducing
Wastes
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Triple rinsing (10-30-3)
Probes and Jets
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jet rinsers
siphon/rinse probes
tank rinsers
container rinsers
Closed systems
Injection systems
Portable sumps
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Jet Rinsers
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Accepted alternative to
triple rinsing
Inexpensive
Very efficient
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speeds up rinsing
saves chemical
saves time
saves money
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Probes
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Siphon/rinse probes
» closed system (part)
» measure concentrates
» eliminate mix/load
process
» reduce chance of waste
and spills
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Tank and Container Rinsers
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Tank rinsers
» internal to tank
» more efficient
» saves time and cleans
more efficiently
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Container rinsers
» designed to rinse larger
containers
» does not puncture
container
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Closed Systems
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Eliminate manual
mixing/loading
process
Reduce
exposure to
concentrates
Reduce waste of
concentrates
Reduce spill
potential
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Closed Systems - Small Systems
and Backpack Sprayers
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Nomix/Monsanto Expedite System
» pre-packaged product (no mixing or handling)
– self-sealing, no waste, refillable containers
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five different herbicides
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Closed Systems - Small Systems
and Backpack Sprayers
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Nomix/Monsanto Expedite System
» backpack sprayer
– reduced drift
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nozzles
chemistry
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Systems to Reduce Drift
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Low drift nozzles
Spray shields
Low boom height
Proper use
» low wind speeds
» low pressures
» selection of formulations
with low drift potential
Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs
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Injection Systems
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Closed system
Computer-controlled
mixing and calibration
No large tank of diluted
chemical
» in-line mixing
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Tank mixes
Eliminates waste and
saves time
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Portable Sumps
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Decontamination sites
Up to 33 linear feet of work
area and 1,465 gallon
sumps
Eliminate spills and runoff
from load/fill sites
Comply with existing and
future disposal regulations
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Summary - Affecting Exposure
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Reduced risk handling systems
» formulations and packaging eliminate handling
concentrates and mixing
» containers reduce spills and accidents
» closed systems and computer controlled systems
reduce fatigue and mistakes

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
» still the best way to reduce exposure
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Summary - Affecting Toxicity
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Reduced risk pesticide products
» low toxicity compounds
» new registrations (many post 1993)
» most biologicals and low rate products
» formulations and packaging
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Virginia Registered Products
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Products registered specifically in Virginia
» not all inclusive
» does not imply other products are illegal
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notice low risk products in list
» WSP, WSB, Dry-Pak, ChemPaks,
» G, RTU, WDG
» IGR, phermones, milky spore, B.t.
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