Terms Acronyms - Pesticide Safety

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Terms & Acronyms Home
Understanding the language of pesticides and environmental stewadship is critical to
understanding the pages presented on this site. To assist you we have accumulated two easy to
use lists of the terms and acronyms used in these and in other publications. The terms and
acronyms, like individual stewardship practices, do not stand alone but work together and
provide a framework of thinking about stewardship as a crucial component of pesticide use and
pest management. There are also terms, though not directly related to stewardship, which will
help you learn the language regarding agricultural practices, pesticides, and key government
regulations.
Acronyms and Abbreviations Related to Pesticides
Acronyms shorten long descriptive terms into
mnemonic units. A major factor in the trend toward
speaking acronyms is that of economy. Acronyms
are formed by a process or result of representing a
word or group of words by a shorter form of the
word or phrase. The Acronyms list contains those
that are commonly used by professionals and
scientists working with stewardship and pesticides.
Pesticide Stewardship Terms
The Terms list defines in non-technical language the
more commonly used pesticide and environmental
terms that appear in University and Government
and other publications. The terms used in this list
were derived largely from EPA libraries or
scientific/technical reference documents.
Acronyms
Web sources for Acronyms
EPA
Online Free Dictionary
Acronyms and Abbreviations Related to Pesticides
Other Web sites for acronyms:
http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms and
http://acronmyms.thefreedictionary.com
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A
Aerosol formulation
a.e.
Acid Equivalent
A.I.
Active Ingredient
AAPCC
American Association of Poison Control Centers
AAPCO
Association of American Pesticide Control Officials
AAPSE
American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators
ACC
American Chemistry Council (registrants)
ACPA
American Crop Protection Association (old name for CropLife
America)
ACRC
Ag Container Recycling Council
AD
Antimicrobials Division (EPA)
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
ADI
Acceptable Daily Intake
AFBF
American Farm Bureau Federation
AFOP
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs
AMS
Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA)
ANPRM Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
APHIS
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)
ARAR
Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirement
ARS
Agricultural Research Service (USDA)
ASA
Agronomy Socieity of America
ASABE
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
ASPCRO Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials
(states)
ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ATTRA
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
B
Bait Formulation
BAT
Best Available Technology
BPPD
Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (EPA)
BDAT
Best Demonstrated Available Technology
BEAD
Biological and Economic Analysis Division (EPA)
BEP
Biotechnology and Environmental Protection (APHIS)
BMP
Best Management Practice
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand
BP
Boiling Point
BPCA
Biochemical Pest Control Agents
BPIA
Biopesticide Industry Alliance
Bt
Bacillus thuringiensis
BTU
British Thermal Unit
C&T
Certification and Training
CAA
Clean Air Act
CAMP
Continuous Air Monitoring Program
CARAT
Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition
CARE
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (EPA)
CAS
Chemical Abstract Service
CAST
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
CCA
Certified Crop Advisor
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS)
CDL
Commercial Driver's License
CEPP
Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program
CEQ
Council on Environmental Quality
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act ("Superfund")
CES
Cooperative Extension Service
CEU
Continuing Education Unit
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CFSA
Consolidated Farm Service Agency
CHEMTREC Chemical Transportation Emergency Center
CIPM
Center for Integrated Pest Management
CLA
CropLife America
CLI
Consumer Labeling Initiative
CMA
Chemical Manufacturer's Association
CPDA
Chemical Producers and Distributors Association
(registrants)
CPR
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
CPSC
Consumer Product Safety Commission
CRM
Crop Residue Management
CRP
Conservation Reserve Program (NRCS)
CSREES
Cooperative State Research Education and Extension
Service (USDA)
CTAG
Certification and Training Assessment Group
CWA
Clean Water Act
CWS
Community Water System
CZMA
Coastal Zone Management Act
D
Dust formulation
DF
Dry Flowable formulation
DNT
Developmental Neuro-Toxicity
DNR
Department of Natural Resources
DO
Dissolved Oxygen
DOE
Department of Energy
DOL
Department of Labor
DOT
Department of Transportation
E or EC
Emulsifiable Concentrate formulation
ECR
Enforcement Case Review
ED
Effective Dose
EDSP
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EPA)
EFED
Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EPA)
EHS
Extremely Hazardous Substance
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
EIL
Economic Injury Level
EIS
Environmental Impact Statement
EO
Executive Order
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
EPCRA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
ERP
Enforcement Response Policy (FIFRA)
ES
Enforcement Standard
ESA
Endangered Species Act or Entomological Society of America
ET
Economic Threshold
EUP
Experimental Use Permit
EXTOXNET Extension Toxicology Network
F
Flowable formulation
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
FAO
Food and Agricultural Organization (United Nations agency)
FAS
Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA)
FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
FEAD
Field and External Affairs Division (EPA)
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FFDCA
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
FGIS
Federal Grain Inspection Service
FIFRA
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act
FPPA
Federal Plant Pest Act
FQPA
Food Quality Protection Act
FR
Federal Register or Final Rulemaking
FRAC
Fungicide Resistance Action Committee
FRN
Federal Register Notice
FSA
Farm Service Agency
FTC
Federal Trade Commission
FWPCA Federal Water Pollution Control Act
FWS
Fish and Wildlife Service
G
Granular formulation
GAO
General Accounting Office (agency of Congress)
GCSAA Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
GAPs
Good Agricultural Practices
GHI
Global Harmonization Initiative
GIS
Geographical Information Systems
GLP
Good Laboratory Practice
GMO
Genetically Modified Organism
GPA
Gallons per Acre
GPM
Gallons per Minute
GPS
Global Positioning System
GRAS
Generally Recognized As Safe
GRGL
Groundwater Residue Guidance Level
GUP
General Use Pesticide
GWM
Groundwater Monitoring
GWPS
Groundwater Protection Strategy
HAL
Health Advisory Level
HAZMAT Hazardous materials
HCS
Hazard Communication Standard (OSHA)
HED
Health Effects Division
HEL
Highly Erodible Land
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
HI
Hazard Index
HMIS
Hazardous Material Identification System
HMTA
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
HMTUSA Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act
HR
Herbicide Resistant
HRAC
Herbicide Resistance Action Committee
HSPD
Homeland Security Presidential Directive
HT
Herbicide Tolerant
HW
Hazardous Waste
IAG
Interagency Agreement
IAQ
Indoor Air Quality
ICM
Integrated Crop Management
IGR
Insect Growth Regulator
IPM
Integrated Pest Management
IR
Insect Resistant
IR-4
Interregional Research Project No. 4
IRAC
Insecticide Resistance Action Committee
IRED
Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision
IRM
Insecticide Resistance Management
IRVM
Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management
ITC
TSCA Interagency Testing Committee
IUPAC
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
JPSE
Journal of Pesticide Safety Education (AAPSE)
L
Liquid formulation
LC50
Lethal Concentration to 50% of the Test Organisms
LD50
Lethal Dose to 50% of the Test Organisms
LDT
Lowest Dose Tested
LOD
Limit of Detection
LEPC
Local Emergency Planning Committee
LEPD
Local Emergency Planning District
LOD
Limit of Detection
LUIS
Label Use Information System
M or
ME
Microencapsulated formulation
MCL
Maximum Contaminant Level
MCS
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
MOA
Memorandum of Agreement
MOE
Margin of Exposure
MOS
Margin of Safety
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
MPCA
Microbial Pest Control Agents
MRL
Maximum Residue Level
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet
MSHA
Mine Safety and Health Administration
MTD
Maximum Tolerated Dose
NAAA
National Agricultural Aviation Association
NAAREF
National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education
Foundation
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAHMMA North American Hazardous Materials Management Association
NAPIAP
National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program
NAS
National Academiy of Sciences
NASD
National Ag Safety Database
NASDA
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
NASDARF National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Research Foundation
NASS
National Agricultural Statistics Service
NASULGC National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant
Colleges
NCAMP
National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides
NCODM
National Coalition on Drift Minimization
NEPA
National Environment Protection Act
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association
NGO
Nongovernmental Organization
NIEHS
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIH
National Institutes of Health
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAEL
No Observable Adverse Effect Level
NOEL
No Observable Effect Level
NOIC
Notice of Intent to Cancel (EPA)
NOIS
Notice of Intent to Suspend (EPA)
NOP
National Standards on Organic Production and Handling
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPIC
National Pesticide Information Center
NPIRS
National Pesticide Information Retrieval System
NPMA
National Pest Management Association (structural pest
control industry)
NPRM
Notice of Proposed Rule Making
NPTN
National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (former
name of NPIC)
NRC
National Research Council
NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA)
NRP
National Response Plan
NTE
Not to Exceed
NTIS
National Technical Information Service
NTP
National Toxicology Program
OCM
Office of Compliance Monitoring (enforcement)
ODW
Office of Drinking Water
OECA
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
OECD
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OES
Office of Endangered Species
OGC
Office of General Counsel
OMB
Office of Management and Budget
OMRI
Organic Materials Review Institute
OP
Organophosphate (pesticide)
OPP
Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA)
OPPT
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (EPA)
OPPTS Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (EPA)
ORM
Other Regulated Materials
ORM-A Other Regulated Materials-carried on Airlines
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Occupational
Safety and Health Act
OSW
Office of Solid Waste
OTA
Office of Technology Assessment / Organic Trade Association
OWEP
Office of Wetlands Protection
P&TCN Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals News
PAASS Professional Aerial Applicators Support System
PBTs
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics
PCC
Poison Control Center
PCO
Pest Control Operator
PDMS
Pesticide Document Management System
PDP
Pesticide Date Progam (USDA)
PDSL
Pesticide Data Submitters List
PEL
Permissible Exposure Limit
PESP
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (EPA)
PG
Packing Group
PGR
Plant Growth Regulator
PHI
Pre-Harvest Interval
PIC
Prior Informed Consent
PIPs
Plant Incorporated Protectants
PM
Product Manager (OPP)
PMRA
Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (Canada)
POE
Point of Exposure
POM
Pesticide Operations and Management (SFIREG committee)
POPs
Persistent Organic Pollutants
PPDC
Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (EPA)
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PPI
Preplant Incorporated
PPIS
Pesticide Product Information System
PPLS
Pesticide Product Labeling System
PQA
Plant Quarantine Act
PR
Pesticide Registration
PREP
Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (EPA)
PRN
Pesticide Registration Notice
PRP
Potentially Responsible Party
PSEC
Pesticide Safety Education Center
PSEP
Pesticide Safety Education Program (USDA)
PTCN
Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News
QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control
QAPP
Quality Assurance Project Plan
QL
Quantification Limit
QMP
Quality Management Plan
RAC
Raw Agricultural Commidity
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RD
Registration Division (EPA)
RED
Reregistration Eligibility Decision
REI
Restricted Entry Interval
RfD
Reference Dose
RISE
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment
RMCL
Recommended Maximum Containment Levels
RPAR
Rebuttable Presumption Against Registration
RQ
Reportable Quantity
RTU
Ready to Use formulation
RUP
Restricted Use Pesticide
SAB
Science Advisory Board (EPA)
SAP
Scientific Advisory Panel (FIFRA)
SARA
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (amended
CERCLA)
SARE
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
SCBA
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
SDTF
Spray Drift Task Force
SDWA
Safe Drinking Water Act
SERC
State Emergency Response Commission
SFIREG State-FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (committee
of AAPCO)
SLA
State Lead Agency
SLN
Special Local Need Registration (FIFRA Section 24(c))
SMP
State Management Plan
SP
Soluble Powder formulation
SQG
Small Quantity Generator (Of hazardous waste)
SRRD
Special Review and Reregistration Division (EPA)
STEL
Short Term Exposure Limit
STP
Standard Temperature and Pressure
SWAP
State Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (EPA)
SWCD
Soil and Water Conservation District
SWDA
Solid Waste Disposal Act
SWMU
Solid Waste Management Unit
TCLP
Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
TLV
Threshold Limit Value
TMDL
Total Maximum Daily Load
TME
Test Marketing Exemption
TPPC
Tribal Pesticide Program Council
TPQ
Threshold Planning Quantity
TPSA
The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance
TRED
Tolerance Reassessment Decision
TSCA
Toxic Substances Control Act
TVOC
Total Volatile Organic Content
ULV
Ultra Low Volume
UNEP
United Nations Environment Program
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
USDI
United States Department of the Interior
USDOT United States Department of Transportation
USDW
Underground Source of Drinking Water
USGS
United States Geological Survey
UST
Underground Storage Tanks
VHAP
Volatile Hazardous Air Pollutant
VOC
Volatile Organic Compound
VP
Vapor Pressure
WDG
Water Dispersible Granule formulation
WHO
World Health Organization (UN agency)
WP
Wettable Powder formulation
WPS
Worker Protection Standard
WQPD
Water Quality and Pesticide Disposal (SFIREG committee)
WSP
Water Soluble Powder formulation
Terminology
Agricultural Terminology Links
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Many of the terms below, like individual stewardship practices, do not stand alone but together
provide a framework of thinking about stewardship as a crucial component of pesticide use and
pest management. Other terms below, though not directly related to stewardship, will help
develop a common language regarding agricultural practices, pesticides, and key government
regulations. (Photographs Courtesy Of USDA-NRCS. Initial Consolidated Terminology List
Courtesy of Syngenta Crop Protection.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abrasive - Capable of wearing away or grinding down another object. Some formulations, such
as wettable powders, wear out spray nozzles more quickly, necessitating more frequent
calibration to ensure that rates are not exceeded.
Absorbed Dose - In exposure assessment, the amount of a substance that penetrates an
exposed organism's absorption barriers (skin, lung tissue, gastrointestinal tract wall, etc.)
through physical or biological processes. The term is synonymous with internal dose.
Absorption - The uptake of pesticides into plants and animals. Absorption of pesticides by
target and nontarget organisms is influenced by environmental conditions and by the chemical
and physical properties of the pesticide and the soil. Once absorbed by plants, pesticides may
be broken down or they may remain in the plant until tissue decay or harvest.
Absorption Barrier - Any of the exchange sites of the body that permit uptake of various
substances at different rates (e.g., skin, lung tissue, gastrointestinal tract wall, etc.)
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) - See Reference Dose.
Acid Deposition- A complex chemical and atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when
emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds and other substances are transformed by chemical
processes in the atmosphere, often far from the original sources, and then deposited on earth
in either wet or dry form. The wet forms, popularly called "acid rain," can fall to earth as rain,
snow, or fog. The dry forms are acidic gases or particulates.
Acid Equivalent (a.e.) - The theoretical yield of parent acid from the active ingredient of a
herbicide that has been formulated as a derivative of an acid. Rates of phenoxy herbicides, for
example, are expressed in terms of acid equivalent.
Action Levels - (1) Regulatory levels recommended by EPA for enforcement by FDA and USDA
when pesticide residues occur in food or feed commodities for reasons other than the direct
application of the pesticide. As opposed to "tolerances" which are established for residues
occurring as a direct result of proper usage, action levels are set for inadvertent residues
resulting from previous legal use or accidental contamination. (2) In the Superfund program,
the existence of a contaminant concentration in the environment high enough to warrant action
or trigger a response under SARA and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency
Plan.
Activated Carbon/Activated Charcoal - A highly adsorbent form of carbon used to remove
odors and toxic substances from liquid or gaseous emissions. In waste treatment, it is used to
remove dissolved organic matter from waste drinking water. In drinking water treatment plants,
it is used to remove taste and odor as well as various contaminants.
Active Ingredient (a.i.) - The active chemical(s) in a pesticide formulation.
Acute Toxicity - A measure of the quantity of a chemical, as a single dosage or concentration,
required to cause injury or illness of test animals.
Adjuvant - Chemical added to a pesticide formulation or to the spray tank to increase its
effectiveness, safety, or application characteristics.
Adsorption - A process that binds pesticides to soil particles, often because of the attraction
between the chemical and soil particles. Positively charged pesticide molecules, for example,
are attracted to and can bind to negatively charged clay particles. Soils high in organic matter
or clay are more adsorptive than coarse, sandy soils, in part because a clay or organic soil has
more particle surface area, or more sites onto which pesticides can bind. Wet soils tend to
adsorb less pesticide than dry soils because water molecules compete with the pesticide for the
binding sites. Some pesticides such as paraquat and glyphosate bind very tightly, while others
bind only weakly and are readily desorbed or released back into the soil solution. Some
pesticide labels recommend higher application rates when the chemical is applied to adsorptive
soils, because of reduced availability. However, injury can result when a pesticide used for one
crop is later released from the soil particles in amounts great enough to cause injury to a
sensitive rotational crop. Adsorption is particularly important because it influences whether
other processes are able to affect pesticides; for example, soil microorganisms cannot degrade
pesticides while they are adsorbed.
Adulterated - (1) Any pesticide whose strength or purity falls below the quality stated on its
label. (2) A food, feed, or product that contains illegal pesticide residues.
Adverse Effect - An unexpected adverse condition (such as an unreasonable health effect or
unexpected damage to nontarget crops or aquatic/terrestrial organisms) or a new finding in the
product chemistry and manufacture of the technical material, which was not previously
identified by the registrant. An adverse effect report must be submitted to the EPA by the
registrant each time an adverse effect is found.
Aerated Lagoon - A holding and/or treatment pond that speeds up the natural process of
biological decomposition of organic waste by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria that
degrade organic waste.
Aerial Application - Pesticide treatment applied with the use of an airplane or helicopter.
A-Horizon - Surface and subsurface with most of the organic matter, microbial and chemical
breakdown reactions, and plant roots; varies in depth depending on the geological origins and
degree of erosion.
Air Pollutants - Substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce
other harmful environmental effects; common categories are solids, sulfur compounds, volatile
organic chemicals, particulate matter, nitrogen compounds, oxygen compounds, halogen
compounds, radioactive compound, and odors.
Alkaline - The opposite of acidic; having a pH greater than 7. Some pesticides are adversely
affected in alkaline spray solutions or carryover longer in high pH soils.
Allelopathy - The adverse effect on the growth of plants or microorganisms caused by the
action of chemicals produced by other living or decaying plants.
Allergic Effects - Harmful effects, such as skin rash or asthma, that some people develop in
reaction to pesticides but that do not cause the same reaction in most other people.
Annual - A plant that completes its life cycle from seed in less than one year.
Antidote (Protectant, Safener) - (1) A chemical added to a pesticide (usually a herbicide) or
applied to the crop (usually the seed), to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of a pesticide on
a crop. (2) An antidote is also a substance used as a medical treatment to counteract poisoning.
Aquifer, Unconfined - An aquifer containing water that is not under pressure; the water level
in the associated well is the same as the water table outside the well. Conversely, confined
aquifers are under pressure.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) - A naturally occurring bacterial disease of insects. Insecticides
have been manufactured that contain this bacteria as the active ingredient. Bacillus
thuringiensis insecticides are most commonly used against certain leaf and needle-feeding
caterpillars. Recently, strains of the bacteria have been produced that affect certain fly larvae,
such as mosquitoes, and larvae of leaf beetles. Bacillus thuringiensis is considered safe to
humans and non-target species, such as wildlife. Some formulations can be used on essentially
all food crops.
Back-Siphoning - The movement of liquid pesticide mixture back through the filling hose and
into the water source.
Bacteria (Singular - bacterium) - Microscopic living organisms that can aid in pollution
control by metabolizing organic matter in sewage, spill sites, or other contaminated areas.
However, there are also bacteria in soil, water or air that can cause human, animal and plant
health problems.
Band Application - An application of a pesticide to a continuous narrow strip, usually over,
along, or in a crop row, rather than broadcast over the entire field area. Banding reduces the
pesticide load on the environment. However, under some circumstances, such as coincidence of
ammonia injection furrows and pesticide bands, banding may increase movement of the
pesticide through the soil. Also, the additional cultivation which is often needed for weed control
between the bands can make herbicide banding unacceptable in areas where cultivation is
being avoided to reduce erosion.
Basal Treatment - A pesticide application to the stems or trunks of woody plants at and just
above the ground.
Bed - A narrow, flat-topped ridge on which crops are grown, with a furrow on each side for
irrigation or drainage of excess water. The bed may be rebuilt during the season as it washes
away.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Soil, nutrient, and pesticide conservation practices
that also provide water quality benefits. They include numerous practices, such as cover crops,
green manure crops, and strip-cropping to control erosion, soil testing and timing of chemical
applications to prevent the loss of nutrients and pesticides, use of adjuvants to maximize
pesticide effectiveness at lowest rates, and careful selection of application methods such as
banding to reduce rates.
B-Horizon - Subsoil where leached substances are broken down very slowly and are thus more
likely to reach groundwater.
Biennial - A plant that completes its life cycle after an overwintering period which is necessary
to initiate the flowering response.
Bioassay - Use of living organisms to determine the presence of a pesticide.
Bioavailability - Degree of ability to be absorbed and ready to interact in organism
metabolism.
Bioconcentration - The accumulation of a chemical in tissues of a fish or other organism to
levels greater than in the surrounding medium.
Biodegradable - Capable of decomposing under natural conditions.
Biodiversity - Refers to the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological
complexes in which they occur. These items can be organized at many levels, ranging from
complete ecosystems to the biochemical structures that are the molecular basis of heredity.
Thus, the term encompasses different ecosystems, species, and genes.
Biological Control/Biocontrol - Man's use of a specially chosen predator, parasite, or
disease to attack a harmful insect, plant pathogen, or weed.
Biological Magnification - Refers to the process whereby certain substances such as
pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are
eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or
humans. The substances become concentrated in tissues or internal organs as they move up
the chain.
Biological/Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - An indirect measure of the concentration
of biologically degradable material present in organic wastes. It usually reflects the amount of
oxygen consumed in five days by biological processes breaking down organic waste. The
greater the BOD, the greater the degree of pollution.
Bioremediation - Use of living organisms to clean up oil spills or remove other pollutants from
soil, water, or wastewater; use of organisms such as non-harmful insects to remove agricultural
pests or counteract diseases of trees, plants, and garden soil.
Biotechnology - Techniques that use living organisms or parts of organisms to 1) produce a
variety of products (from medicines to industrial enzymes) to improve plants or animals, 2)
develop microorganisms to remove toxins from water or soil, or 3) act as pesticides.
Bloom - A proliferation of algae and/or higher aquatic plants in a body of water; often related
to pollution, especially when pollutants accelerate growth.
Breakdown of Pesticides - The degradation of pesticides, usually beneficial. Pesticidedestroying reactions change most pesticide residues in the environment to nontoxic or harmless
compounds. However, degradation is detrimental when a pesticide is destroyed before the
target pest has been controlled. See Chemical Breakdown, Microbial Breakdown, and
Photodecomposition.
Broadcast Application - An application of a pesticide uniformly to soil or plants; the term
foliar application is usually preferred when insecticides or fungicides are applied to plants.
Broadleaf Weeds - In general, dicotyledonous weeds with net-veined leaves and terminal or
axillary meristems.
Buffer Strips - Areas or strips of land maintained in permanent vegetation, designed to
intercept pollutants and erosion. Placed around fields, they can enhance wildlife habitat,
improve water quality, and enrich aesthetics on farmlands. Various types of buffers include
contour buffer strips, filter strips, riparian forest buffers, field borders, windbreaks/shelterbelts,
hedgerows, grassed waterways, and alley cropping.
Carcinogen - A substance or agent capable of producing cancer in animals.
Carrier - A gas, liquid, or solid substance used to dilute or suspend a pesticide during its
application.
Carryover - When a pesticide remains in the soil in sufficient quantity to detrimentally affect
the following crop(s). There is more potential for carryover in soils high in clay, organic matter,
CEC, and pH (high pH reduces chemical and microbial breakdown while increasing availability of
some pesticides), and less potential in soils high in microbial and chemical activity (which are
favored by a warm, moist, well-aerated, fertile soil with a medium soil pH). Certain pesticide
characteristics (low water solubility, strong adsorption, and low susceptibility to microbial or
chemical degradation) increase potential for carryover. Carryover potential can be reduced by
uniformly applying the lowest recommended rate, accurate acreage determination and chemical
measurement, and proper sprayer calibration. Banding of pesticides, early-season application,
tillage and cultivation, tank mixtures to reduce the rate of the persistent partner, and selection
of a tolerant rotational crop or variety help minimize carryover problems.
Chemical Breakdown - The degradation of pesticides by processes that do not involve living
organisms. Temperature, moisture, pH and adsorption, in addition to the chemical and physical
properties of the pesticide, determine which chemical reactions take place and how quickly they
occur. One of the most common pesticide degradation reactions is hydrolysis, a breakdown
process in which the pesticide reacts with water in the spray mix or soil. Many organophosphate
and carbamate insecticides are particularly susceptible to hydrolysis under alkaline conditions.
Some are actually broken down within a matter of hours when mixed with alkaline water.
Product labels may warn against mixing a pesticide with certain fertilizers, other pesticides or
water with specific characteristics. Following these precautions can help prevent pesticide
degradation and potential incompatibility problems in the spray tank. In some situations, buffers
or other additives may be available to modify spray mix conditions and prevent or reduce
degradation. Pesticide degradation and possible corrosion of application equipment can be
avoided by not allowing a spray mix to remain in a tank for a long period of time.
Chemical Name - The systematic name of a chemical compound according to specific rules of
nomenclature. The accepted chemical name is usually the name used in Chemical Abstracts.
Chemical-Resistant - Able to prevent movement of the pesticide through the material during
the period of use.
Chemigation - The application of pesticides through irrigation water. The chemigation unit
must be calibrated with each use to ensure accurate application. Use a secondary containment
structure made of impermeable material where pesticides are stored near the irrigation well
when chemigation is practiced, in case of a leak or spill. Minimize runoff and leaching by
adjusting amounts and timing based on soil moisture and crop needs to maintain vigorous
growth, avoiding movement beyond root zone.
Chemnet - Mutual aid network of chemical shippers and contractors that assigns a contracted
emergency response company to provide technical support if a representative of the firm whose
chemicals are involved in an incident is not readily available.
Chemtrec - The industry-sponsored Chemical Transportation Emergency Center; provides
information and/or emergency assistance to emergency responders.
Chlorosis - Loss of green color (chlorophyll) in foliage, resulting in yellowing of the plant.
Chronic Exposure - Multiple exposures occurring over an extended period of time or over a
significant fraction of an animal's or human's lifetime (usually seven years to a lifetime).
Chronic Toxicity - A measure of the quantity of a chemical required to cause injury or illness
of test animals, after lifetime exposure.
Clean Water Act - The 1977 Clean Water Act established the basic structure for regulating
discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States. It gave EPA the authority to
implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry, made
it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters (unless a permit
was obtained under its provisions), funded the construction of sewage treatment plants and
recognized the need for planning to address the critical problems posed by nonpoint source
pollution.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - Document that codifies all rules of the executive
departments and agencies of the federal government. It is divided into fifty volumes, known as
titles. Title 40 of the CFR (referenced as 40 CFR) lists all environmental regulations.
Collecting Pad or Tray - A safety system designed to contain and recover spills, rinsates,
leaks, and other pesticide-containing substances.
Common Name - A non-Latin name for a plant species, or a simple (not Chemical Abstracts)
name used to identify the active ingredient of a pesticide.
Community Water System (CWS) - A public water system which serves at least 15 service
connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.
See Non-Community Water System.
Companion Crop/Nurse Crop - A crop (commonly a cereal) grown with another crop
(commonly a small-seeded legume) in order to secure a return from the land in the first year of
a new seeding of the slow-growing legume. The companion crop also reduces the potential for
erosion during the establishment of the legume.
Composting - The controlled biological decomposition of organic material in the presence of
air to form a humus-like material. Controlled methods of composting include mechanical mixing
and aerating, ventilating the materials by dropping them through a vertical series of aerated
chambers, or placing the compost in piles out in the open air and mixing or turning it
periodically.
Concentrate - Applied in reduced water volume compared to what is normal for that
crop/size/density. Concentrate sprays are often applied in orchards. Also see Dilute.
Concentrated Flow - Runoff that accumulates or converges into well-defined channels.
Concentrated Flow
Confidential Business Information (CBI) - Material that contains trade secrets or
commercial or financial information that has been claimed as confidential by its source (e.g., a
pesticide or new chemical formulation registrant). EPA has special procedures for handling such
information.
Confidential Statement of Formula (CSF) - A list of the ingredients in a new pesticide or
chemical formulation. The list is submitted at the time for application for registration or change
in formulation.
Conservation - The use, protection, renewing, and improvement of natural resources
according to principles that will ensure their highest economic or social benefits.
Contact Herbicide - A herbicide that kills primarily the plant tissue to which it is applied. Such
a herbicide will kill seedlings or young plants, but established perennial plants generally recover
because below-ground parts are not injured.
Contour Buffer Strips - Series of strips of grass or legumes placed across the slope on a
contour, which help trap sediment and nutrients. This is similar to strip-cropping, but with
narrower grass or legume strips. The alternating strips of grass or other permanent vegetation
slow runoff flow, trap sediment from the crop strips above, and increase water infiltration.
Because the buffer strip is established on the contour, runoff flows evenly across the entire
surface of the grass strip, reducing sheet and rill erosion.
Contour Furrows - Furrows plowed nearly level around the hill - at right angles to the slope.
Crop row ridges subsequently built by tilling and/or planting on the contour create hundreds of
small dams. These ridges or dams slow water flow and increase infiltration which reduces
erosion.
Contour Strip-Cropping - Crop rotation and contouring combined in equal-width strips of row
crop (typically corn or soybeans) planted on the contour and alternated with strips of oats,
grass, or legumes. Not more than half a field can be planted to row crops. Oats, grass, or
legume slows runoff, increases infiltration, traps sediment and provides surface cover. Ridges
formed by contoured rows slow water flow thus reducing erosion. Rotating the strips from corn
to legumes allows nutrient-needy crops to benefit from the nitrogen added to the soil by
legumes.
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology - A nonprofit organization composed of
scientific societies and many individual, student, company, nonprofit, and associate society
members, which assembles, interprets, and communicates science-based information regionally,
nationally, and internationally on food, fiber, agricultural, natural resource, and related societal
and environmental issues, for various stakeholders-legislators, regulators, policy makers, the
media, the private sector, and the public.
Cover Crop- A crop grown between crops or between seasons, which is not necessarily
harvested but is grown to cover the soil and thus reduce erosion.
Cover Spray - An application after petal fall of fruiting trees, when leaves are fully-expanded.
Critical Area Planting - Planting grass, legumes, trees or shrubs in small, isolated areas of
excessive erosion. The vegetation provides surface cover to stop the raindrop splash and slow
water flow.
CropLife America - A trade association representing most of the manufacturers of pesticides.
Crop Residue Management - A year-round system beginning with the selection of crops that
produces sufficient quantities of residue and may include the use of cover crops after low
residue producing crops. CRM includes all field operations that affect residue amounts,
orientation and distribution throughout the period requiring protection. Leaving last year's crop
residue on the surface before and during planting operations by reducing tillage provides cover
for the soil at a critical time of the year, shielding soil particles from rain and wind until plants
can produce a protective canopy. Site-specific residue cover amounts needed are usually
expressed in percentage but may also be in pounds. See Tillage, Conservation for tillage
systems used with CRM.
Crop Rotation - Changing the crops grown in a field from year to year in a planned sequence.
Crop rotations can reduce weed, disease, insect and other pest problems by changing the
environment or interrupting their food source; provide alternative sources of soil nitrogen
(because alfalfa and other legumes replace some of the nitrogen that corn and other grain
crops remove); reduce soil erosion; and reduce risk of water contamination by agricultural
chemicals. Crop rotation is a common practice on sloping soils because of its potential for soil
saving.
Cultivation - Tillage operations performed for weed control after seeding the crop, using
equipment such as a rolling cultivator, conventional row crop cultivator, rotary hoe, or spiketooth harrow.
Cultural Weed Control - Providing the crop with the optimum growing conditions, and
utilizing genotype, crop rotation, plant population, row spacing, competitiveness, and other
plant-related characteristics so that the crop is able to compete more successfully with weeds.
Data Call-In - A part of the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) process of developing key
required test data, especially on the long-term, chronic effects of existing pesticides, in advance
of scheduled Registration Standard reviews. Data Call-In from manufacturers is an adjunct of
the Registration Standards program intended to expedite re-registration.
Data Compensation - Under US law, companies who are the original submitters of data to
support a product registration, are entitled to receive financial compensation for the data when
their competitors rely on such data to obtain their own or substantially similar pesticide
registrations (e.g. generic registrations, or me-too registrations). For a new active ingredient,
FIFRA 3(c)(1)(F) entitles the original data submitter to 10 years exclusive use protection plus 5
years of data compensation. For all other eligible data, 15 years of data compensation is
allowed from the date of the submission.
Decontamination - The removal of pesticide from surfaces or organisms that were exposed,
so no further harm or damage can occur.
Defoliant - A chemical that causes the leaves to abscise from a plant.
Delayed Dormant - An application when a plant, typically a fruiting tree, is still dormant but
about to enter the pre-bloom stage.
Dermal Exposure - Contact between a chemical and the skin.
Desiccant - Any substance or mixture of substances used to accelerate the drying of plant
tissue.
Detection Limit - The lowest concentration of a chemical that can reliably be distinguished
from a zero concentration.
Detention Time - (1) The theoretical calculated time required for a small amount of water to
pass through a tank at a given rate of flow. (2) The actual time that a small amount of water is
in a settling basin, flocculating basin, or rapid-mix chamber of a water treatment plant. (3) In
storage reservoirs, the length of time water will be held before being used.
Development Effects - Adverse effects such as altered growth, structural abnormality,
functional deficiency, or death observed in a developing organism.
Dilute - Applied in standard water volume for that crop/size/density. Also see Concentrate.
Directed Application - An application of a fungicide or insecticide to a specific part of the
crop; or an application of a herbicide to weeds while contacting no more than the lower part of
the stems of row crops. This application is done to improve pest control and, with some
herbicides, to limit the potential for crop injury.
Directed Band - An application in a continuous narrow strip while contacting no more than the
lower part of the stems of row crops.
Direct Filtration - A method of treating water which consists of the addition of coagulant
chemicals, flash mixing, coagulation, minimal flocculation, and filtration. Sedimentation is not
used.
Disease Cycle - The successive stages from primary infection through incubation, appearance
of symptoms, and production of secondary inoculum, which can start the cycle again.
Disposal - Final placement or destruction of toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or
banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted soils; and drums containing hazardous materials
from removal actions or accidental releases. Disposal may be accomplished through use of
approved secure landfills, surface impoundments, land farming, deep-well injection, ocean
dumping, or incineration. See Pesticides, Proper Handling.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - The oxygen freely available in water, vital to fish and other aquatic
life and for the prevention of odors. DO levels are considered a most important indicator of a
water body's ability to support desirable aquatic life. Secondary and advanced waste treatment
steps are generally designed to ensure adequate DO in waste-receiving waters.
Dissolved Solids - Disintegrated organic and inorganic material in water. Excessive amounts
make water unfit to drink or use in industrial processes.
Diversion - A channel or earthen embankment, much like a terrace, constructed across the
land slope to intercept and divert surface runoff from a specific area to an outlet. A diversion is
often built at the base of a slope to divert runoff away from bottom lands. A diversion may also
be used to divert runoff flows away from a feedlot, or to collect and direct water to a pond.
Dormancy - The state of inhibited seed germination or growth of a plant. Winter annuals,
biennials, and perennial plants usually have a period of dormancy during the winter. Dormancy
may be genetically or environmentally induced.
Dose-Response - Shifts in toxicological responses of an individual (such as alterations in
severity) or populations (such as alterations in incidence) that are related to changes in the
dose of any given substance.
Double Cropping - Two crops grown in quick succession, instead of the normal practice of
growing one or the other. Most commonly, winter wheat is harvested and immediately followed
by a late-seeded soybean variety that requires a slightly shorter growing season than a
conventional variety.
Drag-Off - Cultivation (by harrowing) of the hill before the crop (especially potatoes) emerges.
Herbicides may be applied after drag-off for control of unemerged weeds.
Drainage, Subsurface - The removal of excess water from the soil profile by means of drain
tiles, perforated pipes, or other devices.
Drainage, Surface - The diversion or orderly removal of excess water from the surface of the
land by means of improved natural or constructed channels, supplemented when necessary by
the sloping and grading of land surfaces to these channels.
Drench Application - A pesticide poured around the base of the tree or on the tree trunk.
Drift - Movement of airborne drops of spray solution, or vapors, from the intended area of
application to nontarget species. Generally granules and pellets reduce drift compared to
wettable powders and other liquid sprays. Dusts are most susceptible to drift. For liquid sprays,
adjust equipment to minimize fine droplets, which are most susceptible to drift. Release
pesticide spray as close to the target as possible, in calm (10 mph or less) weather conditions.
Windy conditions or air conditions created by a temperature inversion (cold air trapped between
the soil surface and warm air above) generally contribute to pesticide drift.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund - Fund which provides capitalization grants to states
to develop drinking water revolving loan funds to help finance system infrastructure
improvements, assure source-water protection, enhance operation and management of
drinking-water systems, and otherwise promote local water-system compliance and protection
of public health.
Drip Application - Slow, monitored release of pesticide through drip irrigation equipment to
conserve water.
Dust - A formulation providing excellent coverage of mature crops with dense foliage, because
its carrier (talc, clay, finely ground plant parts, etc.) has very small particle sizes. It is highly
susceptible to drift.
Dystrophic Lakes - Acidic, shallow bodies of water that contain much humus and/or other
organic matter; they contain many plants but few fish. See eutrophic lakes.
Early Preplant (EPP) - Herbicides applied two weeks or more before planting the crop.
Products that can be applied early preplant as well as preplant and preemergence give the
grower a wider application window, making adverse weather conditions like rainy weather less
likely to hinder or prevent the application. Stewardship is also aided by products that give
growers the flexibility to wait instead of spraying prior to adverse weather conditions such as
heavy rain.
Ecological Risk Assessment - The application of a formal framework, analytical process, or
model to estimate the effects of human action(s) on a natural resource and to interpret the
significance of those effects in light of the uncertainties identified in each component of the
assessment process. Such analysis includes initial hazard identification, exposure and doseresponse assessments, and risk characterization.
Ecosystem - An ecological entity consisting of the biotic community and the nonliving
environment functioning together in an interacting system.
Emergence - The breaking through the soil surface by a plant seedling or an elongating shoot.
Emulsifier - Chemical that allows petroleum-based pesticides (EC's) to mix with water.
Emulsion - A mixture of two or more liquids that are not soluble in one another. One is
suspended as small droplets in the other.
Endangered Species - Organisms whose survival as a species has been designated by a
Federal Agency to be endangered or threatened.
Endangered Species Act – This 1973 Act provides a program for the conservation of
threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found. The
US Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the list of endangered and threatened species. Species
include birds, insects, fish, reptiles, mammals, crustaceans, and plants ranging from grasses to
trees. Anyone can petition FWS to include a species on this list. The law prohibits any action,
administrative or real, that results in a "taking" of a listed species, or adversely affects habitat.
Likewise, import, export, interstate, and foreign commerce of listed species are all
prohibited. EPA's decision to register a pesticide is based in part on the risk of adverse effects
on endangered species as well as environmental fate (how a pesticide will affect habitat). Under
FIFRA, EPA can issue emergency suspensions of certain pesticides to cancel or restrict their use
if an endangered species will be adversely affected. EPA, FWS, and USDA are preparing county
bulletins that include habitat maps, pesticide use eliminations, and other actions required to
protect listed species.
Enrichment - The addition of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon compounds) from
sewage effluent or agricultural runoff to surface water, greatly increasing the growth potential
for algae and other aquatic plants.
Environment - The sum total of all biological and physical factors affecting an organism,
population, or community.
Environmental Protection Agency - The government agency formed in 1970 and charged
with protecting human health and the environment. EPA works to develop and enforce
regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. EPA delegates to states
and tribes the responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance.
Where national standards are not met, EPA can issue sanctions and take other steps to assist
the states and tribes in reaching the desired levels of environmental quality
Epinasty - That state in which more rapid growth on the upper side of a plant organ or part
(especially leaf) causes it to bend or curl downward.
Erosion - The detachment and movement of surface soil and rock particles by gravity, wind,
water, freezing and thawing, and/or other natural phenomena, which is intensified by landclearing practices related to farming, residential or industrial development, road building, or
logging.
Erosion
Eutrophication - The slow aging process during which a lake, estuary, or bay evolves into a
bog or marsh and eventually disappears. During the later stages of eutrophication the water
body is choked by abundant plant life due to higher levels of nutritive compounds such as
nitrogen and phosphorus. Human activities can accelerate the process.
Eutrophic Lakes - Shallow, murky bodies of water with concentrations of plant nutrients
causing excessive production of algae. See dystrophic lakes.
Exemption - An excuse given by a state (with primacy) to a public water system from a
requirement involving a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), treatment technique, or both, if
the system cannot comply due to compelling economic or other factors, or because the system
was in operation before the requirement or MCL was instituted; and the exemption will not
create a public health risk. Also called a variance.
Experimental Use Permit (EUP) - A permit granted by EPA that allows a producer to
conduct tests of a new pesticide, product and/or use outside the laboratory. The testing is
usually done on ten or more acres of land or water surface, as opposed to small research plots.
Eyewash Dispenser - Commercially available system for flushing contaminants out of the
eyes.
Fallow - Cropland left idle, usually for one growing season in dryland areas, during which time
either herbicides (chemical fallow) or tillage is used to control weeds and build up moisture
reserves for the next crop.
Fall Preplant - Herbicides applied in the fall, prior to planting the crop the following spring.
Timing is critical relative to soil freeze-up, to ensure that product does not degrade or move in
the environment during the fall or winter months.
Farm Pond - A water body typically formed by building a dam across an existing gully or lowlying area. Earth for the dam is dug out above the dam with heavy machinery to form a bowl,
to supply water for livestock, recreation and wildlife, and to control gully erosion. Generally the
ponded area fills with water within a year. An overflow pipe is installed through the dam to
control the water level and allow water to spill through the dam without causing erosion.
Farm Pond
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act – This 1947 Act is used by the EPA to
regulate: 1) the registration of all pesticides used in the United States, 2) the licensing of
pesticide applicators, 3) re-registration of all pesticide products, 4) and the storage,
transportation, disposal and recall of all pesticide products. FIFRA was amended in 1972, and
has subsequently been amended several more times, most recently by the Food Quality
Protection Act of 1996.Federal Register - A daily government publication where all federal
regulatory actions, including proposed rules, final rules, and notices are published.
Field Border - Strips of perennial vegetation (grass or legumes) established at the outside
edges of a field where excessive sheet and rill erosion is occurring. The grass or legume strips
replace crop end rows, which would be planted up and down hill and be highly erosive. Field
borders are sometimes referred to as picture frames of grass, and are used with contour
farming, terrace, buffer strip and contour strip-cropping systems. The grass or legume in the
strip protects steep field edges from soil erosion, and provides turning and travel lanes around
the field.
Filter Strip - A strip of grass, trees, or shrubs that filters runoff and removes sediment,
fertilizer, and pesticides before they reach water bodies or water sources including wells. Strips
of grass, trees and/or shrubs slow water flow and cause contaminants like sediment, pesticides,
and fertilizers to collect in vegetation. Collected nutrients are used by the vegetation, rather
than entering water supplies. Filtered water then enters water bodies.
Finished Water - Water that has passed through all the processes in a water treatment plant
and is ready to be delivered to consumers.
Foliar Application - A uniform application of a pesticide to emerged plants. Also see
Broadcast Application.
Food and Drug Administration - One of our nation's oldest consumer protection agencies,
charged with monitoring the manufacture, import, transport, storage and sale of about $1
trillion worth of products each year. Foremost, FDA is a public health agency, charged with
protecting American consumers by enforcing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and
several related public health laws. To carry out this mandate of consumer protection, FDA has
some 1,100 investigators and inspectors who cover the country's almost 95,000 FDA-regulated
businesses. Food (e.g. pesticide residues), cosmetics, medicines, microwave ovens, and food
and drugs for pets are among the myriad of products under FDA jurisdiction.
Formulation - A physical mixture of one or more pesticides plus non-pesticide ingredients by a
manufacturer for practical use. The formulation may influence effectiveness, selectivity, ease of
application, packaging, and cost.
FQPA - The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996, which amended the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (FFDCA). These amendments fundamentally changed the way EPA regulates pesticides. The
requirements include a new safety standard for "reasonable certainty of no harm" that must be
applied to all pesticides used on foods, and additional criteria which EPA must consider when
making decisions on food tolerances and product registrations. Provisions in FQPA consider
criteria that are most relevant to aggregate exposure assessment and potential exposure to
infants and children. Also see Risk Cup.
Frill Treatment - Placement of a herbicide into a series of overlapping ax cuts made through
the bark in a ring around the trunk of a tree.
Fumigant - Pesticide that is a vapor or gas or that forms a vapor or gas when applied and
whose pesticidal action occurs in the gaseous state.
Fumigation - A pesticide application in gaseous or volatile liquid form, usually made in an
enclosed area or incorporated into the soil.
Fungi - (Singular - fungus) Molds, mildews, yeasts, mushrooms, etc., which lack chlorophyll
(are not photosynthetic) and which are usually non-mobile, filamentous, and multicellular. Some
grow in soil while others attach themselves to decaying trees and other plants to obtain
nutrients. Some are pathogens while others are beneficial, such as those used to stabilize
sewage and digest composted waste.
Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) - Designation by the FDA that a chemical or
substance (including certain pesticides) added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is
exempted from the usual food additive tolerance requirements.
Geographical Information Systems - A computerized database for the capture, storage,
analysis, and display of spatial information. Database records are linked to a precise location
that can be plotted on a map. As much as two-thirds of all the information residing in
government or corporate files have spatial characteristics.
Genetic Engineering - A process of inserting new genetic information into existing cells in
order to modify a specific organism for the purpose of changing one of its characteristics.
Germination - The process of initiating growth in seeds, spores, or other plant propagules.
Good Laboratory Practices - Standards established by EPA to assure the quality and integrity
of test data submitted to the Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including laboratory inspections and
data audits to ensure compliance.
Grade Control Structure - A dam, embankment or other structure built across a drainageway
(such as a grassed waterway or existing gully) to reduce water flow and prevent gully erosion.
The structure drops water from one stabilized grade to another and prevents gullies from
advancing up a slope.
Grade Control Structure
Granule - A formulation which must disintegrate in the presence of moisture (in soil, in the
crop whorl, etc.) to release the active ingredient.
Grade Control Structure
Granule - A formulation which must disintegrate in the presence of moisture (in soil, in the
crop whorl, etc.) to release the active ingredient.
Grassed Waterway - A natural or constructed drainageway or outlet that is graded and
shaped to form a smooth, bowl-shaped channel. This area is seeded to suitable vegetation,
often sod-forming grasses. Runoff water that flows down the drainageway disperses across the
grass rather than tearing away soil and forming a larger gully. An outlet is often installed at the
base of the drainageway to stabilize the waterway and prevent a new gully from forming.
Grass Weeds - In general, monocotyledonous, parallel-veined weeds of the botanical family
Gramineae.
Green Manure - A crop that is plowed under for soil improvement.
Groundwater - The water below the soil surface, which fills the pores, voids, fractures, and
other spaces in and around rock, gravel, sand and other materials, and moves through watersaturated zones called aquifers.
Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water - Any water beneath the
surface of the ground with either 1) significant occurrence of insects or other microorganisms,
algae, or large-diameter pathogens or 2) significant and relatively rapid shifts in water
characteristics such as turbidity, temperature, conductivity, or pH which closely correlate to
climatological or surface water conditions. Direct influence is determined for individual sources
in accordance with criteria established by a state.
Gully Erosion - Severe erosion in which trenches are cut to a depth greater than 30
centimeters (1 ft). Generally, ditches deep enough to cross with farm equipment are considered
gullies.
Half-Life - The time it takes for half of the active ingredient in a pesticide to become inactive.
The half-life varies for a particular pesticide depending on the environmental conditions.
Harmonization - EPA recognizes that there are national differences in tolerances and pesticide
registrations. Resolving these differences are a priority for growers and is becoming a priority
for the EPA, PMRA and other regulatory authorities. EPA will consider "harmonizing" these trade
barriers providing there is a level of protection and safety in the international standards. The
regulatory authorities will benefit since compliance and enforcement will be simplified. In
addition, harmonization benefits the grower, consumer, and the pesticide industry.
Health Advisory Level (HAL) - A non-regulatory health-based reference level of chemical
traces (usually in ppm) in drinking water at which there are no adverse health risks when
ingested over various periods of time. Such levels are established for one day, 10 days, longterm and lifetime exposure periods. They contain a wide margin of safety. See Maximum
Contaminant Level.
Hill - A high ridge of soil thrown over unemerged crop rows (especially potatoes), to kill
emerging weeds before the crop emerges. Herbicides may be applied at hilling for control of
unemerged weeds.
Hormone - A growth regulating chemical occurring naturally in plants or animals, which moves
from the site of production to the site of action.
Host - A plant that is invaded by a parasite and from which the parasite obtains its nutrients.
Hypoxia/Hypoxic Waters - Waters with dissolved oxygen concentrations of less than 2 ppm,
the level generally accepted as the minimum required for most marine life to survive and
reproduce.
Incompatibility, Chemical - Two pesticides which, upon mixing, have an unacceptable
chemical reaction resulting in unusual or loss in activity.
Incompatibility, Physical - Two pesticides which, upon mixing, have an unacceptable
physical reaction resulting in precipitation, coagulation, etc.
Incorporated - A pesticide application that is mixed into the soil mechanically or by irrigation,
to improve control of soil organisms or germinating weeds, or reduce the pesticide's loss by
surface runoff, volatility, and/or photodecomposition. However, this practice may increase the
amount of pesticide that leaches through the soil.
Incubation Period - The period of time between the penetration of a host by a pathogen
(infection) and the first appearance of symptoms on the host.
Inert Ingredients - Inactive components of a pesticide formulation that are used to dilute the
pesticide, make it easier to measure, mix, apply, and store, and/or improve safety and
effectiveness. These include solvent or solid diluents, and adjuvants such as emulsifiers,
surfactants, wetting agents, spreaders, adhesives, activators, dispersing agents, penetrants,
and detergents.
Infection - The establishment of a parasite within a host plant.
Infiltration - The downward entry of water into the earth's surface. Infiltration usually refers
to water movement into a soil or rock surface while the terms hydraulic conductivity,
percolation, and permeability usually relate to water movement within a soil or rock layer.
Infiltration Gallery - A sub-surface groundwater collection system, typically shallow in depth,
constructed with open-jointed or perforated pipes that discharge collected water into a
watertight chamber from which the water is pumped to treatment facilities and into the
distribution system. Usually located close to streams or ponds.
In-Furrow Application - Insecticides or fungicides applied in the furrow before closing. The
furrow is the opening made in the soil to plant the seed.
Injection - An application made through the trunk of a tree or into the soil. Soil injection is
often done with side-dress fertilizer applicators.
In-Line Filtration - Pre-treatment method in which chemicals are mixed by the flowing water;
commonly used in pressure filtration installations. Eliminates need for flocculation and
sedimentation.
Inoculum - The pathogen or its parts that can cause infection. That portion of individual
pathogens that are brought into contact with the host.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - An ecosystem-based, multi-disciplinary strategy
using biological, chemical, cultural, mechanical, genetic, and educational methods to keep pests
below unacceptable economic thresholds. IPM includes pest prevention, regular pest and
weather monitoring, habitat manipulation, crop rotation, natural enemies, biological control,
pest-resistant varieties, pest attractants and repellents, biopesticides, and synthetic organic
pesticides. In its best form, it is a long-term strategy which minimizes any detrimental effects
on human health, the environment, and non-target organisms.
Interregional Research Project No. 4 - A federally funded program established in 1963 to
conduct the research necessary for obtaining registrations of pesticides needed to grow minor
crops. IR-4 works with farmers, agricultural scientists, and extension personnel to conduct
research and petition the EPA for tolerances for specific pesticides. The IR-4 program has
grown to include biological pest control agents and biochemicals.
Interseeding - Seeding one crop in rows in another.
Inversion - A layer of warm air that prevents the rise of cooling air and traps pollutants
beneath it; it can cause an air pollution episode.
Invert - A formulation which forms a water-in-oil emulsion in the spray tank, as opposed to the
oil-in-water emulsion formed by Emulsifiable Concentrate formulations. Since the water must be
suspended in the oil, much less water is used in the spray tank. The oil droplets are large and
evaporate little, greatly reducing the probability of drift.
Juvenile Hormones - Natural insect chemicals that keep the earlier stages of an insect from
changing into the normal adult form.
Labels
1. Special Local Need (SLN) or 24(c) - A registration issued by a state regulatory
agency in conjunction with EPA for use of a pesticide product under FIFRA Section
24(c) for a specific use that is not federally registered. The active ingredient, however,
must be federally registered for other uses. The special use is specific to that state for
an imminent pest problem, and is usually a minor use application that does not
warrant the additional cost of a full federal registration process. The 24C has a full
registration status, and the approval is based upon justification for the 24C,
satisfactory supporting data, an established tolerance or exemption from tolerance,
and determination that appropriate federally registered pesticide products are not
sufficiently available. A 24C cannot be issued for new active ingredients, food-use
active ingredients without tolerances, or for a canceled registration.
2. Section 18 - FIFRA legislation includes a Section 18 that describes conditions in which
an emergency use exemption is granted for use of a pesticide not yet federally
registered, or not yet registered for the specific use. The Section 18 will only be
granted by the EPA to a state or a federal agency on a case by case basis and
considers hardship to the grower as well as financial loss due to crop destruction. The
registrant must show progress towards registration of the use prior to a time-limited
tolerance issued by EPA when the exemption is granted. Such actions involve
unanticipated and/or severe pest problems where there is not time or interest by a
manufacturer to register the product for that use. Registrants cannot apply for
emergency exemptions.
3. 2ee - FIFRA legislation under the 2ee allows "labeling" as long as it is consistent with
the registered and approved Section 3 label for the pesticide product. Labels under 2ee
are used to provide a convenient tool for the grower and also may enhance the
competitive edge of the product. The following are some examples of possible 2ee
labels - 1) use directions describing application of a pesticide at a lower rate than that
which is on the product label, 2) employing a method of application not prohibited by
the labeling, or 3) mixing a pesticide with a fertilizer when such a mixture is not
prohibited by the labeling.
4. Conditional Registration - Under special circumstances, the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) permits registration of a pesticide product that
is "conditional" upon the submission of additional data. These special circumstances
include a finding by the EPA Administrator that a new product or use of an existing
pesticide will not significantly increase the risk of unreasonable adverse effects. A
product containing a new (previously unregistered) active ingredient may be
conditionally registered only if the Administrator finds that such conditional registration
is in the public interest, that a reasonable time for conducting the additional studies
has not elapsed, and the use of the pesticide for the period of conditional registration
will not present an unreasonable risk
Layby - The latest time during the season that the grower can still get into the field to cultivate
a row crop. Pesticides may also be applied by ground application at this time (at layby
application).
LC50 - The lethal concentration of a chemical that will kill 50% of the test organisms within a
designated period. The lower the LC50, the more toxic the compound.
LD50 - The lethal dose of a chemical that will kill 50% of the test organisms within a
designated period. The lower the LD50, the more toxic the compound.
Leaching - The downward movement of pesticides in water moving through the soil profile,
rather than over the surface (the latter is runoff). Leaching depends, in part, on the pesticide's
chemical and physical properties. For example, a pesticide held strongly to soil particles by
adsorption is less likely to leach. Another factor is solubility. A pesticide that dissolves in water
can move with water in the soil. The persistence, or longevity, of a pesticide also influences the
likelihood of leaching. A pesticide that is rapidly broken down by a degradation process is less
likely to leach because it may remain in the soil only a short time. Soil factors that influence
leaching include texture and organic matter, in part because of their effect on pesticide
adsorption. Soil permeability (how readily water moves through the soil) is also important. The
more permeable a soil, the greater potential for pesticide leaching. A sandy soil is much more
permeable than a clay. The method and rate of application, the use of tillage systems that
modify soil conditions, and the amount and timing of water a treated area receives after
application can also influence pesticide leaching. Typically, the closer the time of application to
a heavy or sustained rainfall, the greater the likelihood that some pesticide leaching will occur.
A certain, small amount of pesticide leaching may be essential for control of a target pest. Too
much leaching, however, can lead to reduced pest control, injury of nontarget species and
groundwater contamination. Monitoring weather conditions and the amount and timing of
irrigation can help minimize pesticide leaching. Careful pesticide selection is important because
those pesticides that are not readily adsorbed, not rapidly degraded, and highly water soluble
are the most likely to leach. The label may also advise against using the pesticide when certain
soil, geologic or climatic conditions are present. Pesticides can leach through the soil to
groundwater from storage, mixing, equipment cleaning, disposal areas, and even from normal
applications. It is critical to know the geology and the relative depth of the groundwater in your
area to prevent contamination by leaching.
Lesion - A localized area of discolored, diseased tissue.
Life cycle - The successive stages in the growth and development of an organism that occur
between the appearance and reappearance of the same state (e.g., spore or seed) of the
organism.
Lifetime Exposure - Total amount of exposure to a substance that a human would receive in
a lifetime (usually assumed to be 70 years).
Limit of Detection (LOD) - The minimum concentration of a substance being analyzed that
has a 99 percent probability of being identified.
Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) - The lowest level of a stressor that
causes statistically and biologically significant differences in test samples as compared to other
samples subjected to no stressor.
Margin of Exposure (MOE) - The ratio of the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) to
the estimated exposure dose.
Margin of Safety (MOS) - The ratio of the maximum amount of exposure producing no
measurable effect in animals (or studied humans) to the actual amount of human exposure in a
population.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The maximum permissible level of a contaminant in
water delivered to any user of a public system. MCL's are enforceable standards, while HAL's
are not. See Health Advisory Level.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, a nonenforceable concentration of a drinking water contaminant, set at the level at which no known
or anticipated adverse effects on human health occur and which allows an adequate safety
margin. The MCLG is usually the starting point for determining the regulated Maximum
Contaminant Level.
Maximum Residue Level (MRL) - Comparable to a U.S. tolerance level, the enforceable limit
on food pesticide levels in some countries. Levels are set by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, a United Nations agency managed and funded jointly by the World Health
Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. See Tolerance.
Mechanical Weed Control - Physically controlling weeds by using implements ranging from
the hoe to large field cultivators.
Method Detection Limit (MDL) - See Limit of Detection.
Microbial Breakdown - The degradation of pesticides by fungi, bacteria, and other
microorganisms that use pesticides as a food source. Most microbial degradation of pesticides
occurs in the soil. Soil conditions such as moisture, temperature, aeration, pH, and the amount
of organic matter affect the rate of microbial degradation because of their direct influence on
microbial growth and activity. The frequency of pesticide application also is a factor that can
influence microbial degradation. Rapid microbial degradation is more likely when the same
pesticide is used repeatedly in a field. Repeated applications can actually stimulate the buildup
of organisms that are effective in degrading the chemical. As the population of these organisms
increases, degradation accelerates and the amount of pesticide available to control the pest is
reduced. In extreme cases, accelerated microbial degradation has led to certain products being
removed from the marketplace. Microorganisms greatly reduced the effectiveness of these
chemicals soon after application. The possibility of very rapid pesticide breakdown is reduced by
using pesticides only when necessary and by avoiding repeated applications of the same
chemical. Alternating between different classes, groups or formulations of pesticides can
minimize the potential for microbial degradation problems as well as pest resistance.
Minor Use Priority - EPA will expedite the registration process for use of a pesticide on minor
use crops. In addition, if a "vulnerable crop" that is also a minor use crop is identified by the
USDA/EPA due to a crop/pest specific combination, this will become an EPA priority for
registration.
Monitoring Well - 1. A well used to obtain water quality samples or measure groundwater
levels. 2. A well drilled at a hazardous waste management facility or Superfund site to collect
ground-water samples for the purpose of physical, chemical, or biological analysis to determine
the amounts, types, and distribution of contaminants in the groundwater beneath the site.
Monoclonal Antibodies (MABs/MCAs) - 1. Man-made (anthropogenic) clones of a molecule,
produced in quantity for medical or research purposes. 2. Molecules of living organisms that
selectively find and attach to other molecules to which their structure conforms exactly. This
could also apply to equivalent activity by chemical molecules.
Mutagenic - Capable of causing genetic changes.
Mycoplasmas - The smallest known living organisms that can reproduce and exist apart from
other living organisms. They obtain their food from plants.
Necrosis - Localized death of tissue usually characterized by browning and desiccation.
Nematodes - Small, usually microscopic, eel-like roundworms.
Nitrogen Fixation - Conversion of nitrogen in air to nitrogen compounds which plants can
use, by soil organisms or organisms living in nodules on legume roots.
Non-Community Water System (NCWS) - A public water system that is not a community
water system; e.g., the water supply at a campsite or national park. See Community Water
System.
Non-Incorporated - A pesticide application to the soil surface, which enters the soil only by
rainfall.
Non-Point Sources - Diffuse pollution sources (i.e., without a single point of origin or not
introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet). The pollutants are generally carried
off the land by storm water. Common non-point sources are agriculture, forestry, urban,
mining, construction, dams, channels, land disposal, saltwater intrusion, and city streets.
Nonporous Surfaces - Surfaces that have no openings to allow liquid to be absorbed or pass
through.
Nonselective - An herbicide that is generally toxic to most plants treated. Some selective
herbicides may become nonselective at high rates.
Non-Target Organism - Any plant or animal other than the pest that is being controlled.
Non-Transient Non-Community Water System (NTNCWS) - A public water system that
regularly serves at least 25 of the same non-resident persons per day for more than six months
per year.
No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) - An exposure level at which there are no
statistically or biologically significant increases in the frequency or severity of adverse effects
between the exposed population and its appropriate control; some effects may be produced at
this level, but they are not considered as adverse, or as precursors to adverse effects. In an
experiment with several NOAELs, the regulatory focus is primarily on the highest one, leading to
the common usage of the term NOAEL as the highest exposure without adverse effect.
No Observed Effect Level (NOEL) - Exposure level at which there are no statistically or
biological significant differences in the frequency or severity of any effect in the exposed or
control populations.
No-Till - A soil-conserving crop production system in which the crop seed is planted into
stubble or sod with no soil disturbance other than the planting operation.
Noxious weed - A plant identified by law as being undesirable, troublesome, and difficult to
control. Laws may mandate control of noxious weeds and may restrict presence of their seed in
crop seed offered for sale.
Nozzle - The output device of a sprayer. Common nozzle types are flat fan (broadcast
applications), full and hollow cone (foliar insecticides and fungicides). and even (banded
applications).
Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) - This EPA office regulates the use of all pesticides in
the United States and establishes maximum levels for pesticide residues in food, thereby
safeguarding the nation's food supply.
Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) - This EPA office
promotes the use of safer chemicals, processes, and technologies; promotes life-cycle
management of environmental problems such as asbestos; advances pollution prevention
through voluntary action by industry; and promotes the public's right to know.
Offsite - Outside the area where the pesticide is being released.
Oncogenic - Capable of producing or inducing tumors in animals, either benign
(noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Organic Farming - A production system, which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic
fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent
feasible, organic farming systems rely upon such techniques as crop rotations, crop residues,
animal manures, legumes, green manures, mechanical cultivation, and aspects of biological pest
control to maintain soil productivity and tilth, to supply plant nutrients, and to control insects,
weeds and other pests.
Organic Matter - Plant and animal residues at various stages of decomposition, soil
organisms, and substances synthesized by them.
Organophosphate Alternative Pesticide - An OP alternative pesticide is a pesticide that has
efficacy on some of the same pest/crop combinations as the OP, but uses a different mode of
action than the OP. Use of an OP alternative is the EPA's initiative to reduce the use of
organophosphate (OP) pesticides, since the OP pesticides produce their pesticidal effects
through neurotoxicity. An OP Alternative Status does not guarantee that the product will get a
registration.
Overland Flow - The quantity of water that moves across the land surface. Contributions to
overland flow are from runoff and from the surfacing of subsurface flows before they reach a
receiving stream or a defined drainage channel.
Overseeding - Seeding one crop broadcast in another. Overseeding is common in turf and
pastures.
Overwintering Stage(s) - How an organism survives the winter. It is important to
understand overwintering stages in order to develop an integrated pest management approach
which minimizes overwintering of pests in or on the seed of the host, in overwintering
(dormant) plants, in insect vectors, in perennial wild hosts, in debris of infected plants, or in
soil.
Parasite - An organism living on or in another living organism (host) and obtaining its food
from the latter.
Pathogen - An organism that causes disease in other organisms.
Penetrant - A chemical that helps a pesticide active ingredient to get through a surface of an
organism.
Perennial - A plant that lives for more than 2 years. In cold climates the exposed tops of many
weeds may freeze, but they grow back from vegetative parts at, or below, the soil surface.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Devices and clothing worn to protect the human
body from contact with pesticides or pesticide residues.
Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) - All products designed to manage,
destroy, attract or repel pests that are used, sold or imported into Canada are regulated by
Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency. These products include chemicals,
devices, and even organisms, and are referred to collectively as pest control products, or simply
"pesticides." The federal legislative authority for the regulation of pesticides in Canada is the
Pest Control Products Act. The use of pesticides is also subject to regulation under
provincial/territorial legislation.
Pesticide Registration Notice (PR Notice) - A PR Notice is issued by the EPA to clarify
and/or provide additional guidance to the registrants regarding EPA policies or rules. The PR
Notice is given a unique number that identifies it according to both the year and the sequence
of issue within the year of issue. For example "PR Notice 98-7" was the 7th notice issued in
1998.
Pesticides, Proper Handling - These include selection, measuring, mixing, loading,
calibration, application, cleanup, disposal, storage, and spill containment.
1. Selection - Know your pesticides. Always check pesticide labels to determine lowest
rates needed to control the target pest(s), registered crops and geography, and factors
influencing control.
2. Measuring/Mixing/Loading - Before mixing the pesticide with water, check the
water for pH and minerals that may greatly reduce pesticide efficacy. Generally,
insecticides are more sensitive to pH and herbicides are more sensitive to mineral
constituents such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Consult the pesticide label for
recommendations about how to maintain efficacy with varying water quality. Maintain
as much distance as possible between the well and the pesticide mixing and loading
site, using a long hose or filling the tank in the field using an alternative water source.
Wherever possible, do these operations over an impermeable surface that drains to a
sealed catchment. Use closed-handling systems for mixing pesticides where practical,
which consist of a pump and series of pressure hoses that allow the user to siphon
concentrated pesticide and mix with water without direct contact with the chemical.
Prevent spillage and back-siphoning from spray equipment into the well by preventing
overflow, maintaining an air gap between the filling hose and the water level in the
tank, and using an anti-backflow device (check-valve) on the filling hose, especially
when siphoning water directly from a pond or stream (properly-constructed wells have
check-valves, or these can be added to an existing system). Never leave the sprayer
alone while filling. If pesticides are back-siphoned into a well or hydrant, immediately
a) pump the well to minimize pesticide movement into the aquifer and report the
incident to the appropriate authorities. The authorities will provide action steps,
including proper disposal of the pumped water and contaminated soil.
3. Calibration/Application - Calibrate application equipment and perform nozzle
maintenance regularly to ensure that the proper amount of pesticide is applied.
4. Cleanup/Disposal - Rinse chemical containers thoroughly as soon as they are
emptied, using the triple rinse method or a pressure rinser, and use rinsate as part of
the spray solution. Use of dissolvable packaging, reusable containers, or returnable
containers avoids the problems associated with finding a suitable disposal site for
empty containers. Properly dispose of unused pesticides that have been banned or are
no longer wanted, to prevent potential leakage. Clean the application equipment
properly, over an impermeable surface that drains to a sealed catchment. The need for
a rinsing pad and storage of rinsate can be avoided by taking clean water to the field
in a separate tank to clean equipment. Clean in a way that makes it easy to collect
rinsates. Excess spray solution and rinsate from either type of equipment cleaning can
be sprayed on another site or crop listed on the label, or used the next time that
chemical or tank mix is applied; however, it is always preferable that excess spray
solution not be prepared. Never dispose of pesticides or pesticide containers near a
water source, over shallow water tables, in sinkholes or in abandoned wells. Excess
pesticides can be given to another qualified user, taken to a qualified disposal site,
safely stored until there is a hazardous waste collection day, or disposed of through a
hazardous waste transporter.
5. Storage - Pesticide inventory should be adequate but not excessive. Store pesticides in
their original container in a secure, cool, well-ventilated location with a concrete floor
sealed with an impermeable surface material. All drains must be self-contained or
plugged. The building should be located down-slope and as far away from the well and
other water sources as possible. It should not be located in areas that flood or that
have standing water for any length of time. Each pesticide container should have its
label plainly visible with the date of storage clearly marked. Containers should be
inspected regularly for leaks and corrosion, and the proper equipment and materials to
rapidly respond to a spill should be easily accessible in the storage area. Bulk pesticide
storage tanks should also be inspected frequently and placed on concrete pads with
dikes built around them to prevent the movement of pesticides if there is a spill or
leak.
6. Spills - Attend to all pesticide spills immediately. Secure medical attention, contain the
spill, and contact the appropriate authorities. Do not hose down the spill, which will
spread it. Cover the area of the spill with an absorbent and/or neutralizing material
recommended by the pesticide manufacturer. Shovel or sweep the clean-up material
and affected soil into a leak-proof drum and dispose of it according to local regulations
for contaminated materials.
pH (Liquid) - An expression of the intensity of the basic or acid condition of a liquid; may
range from 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acid and 7 is neutral. Natural waters usually have a pH
between 6.5 and 8.5.
pH (Soil) - The degree of acidity or alkalinity in the soil, affecting the availability of nutrients,
the activity of microorganisms, and chemical breakdown reactions, especially acid hydrolysis,
which nearly ceases above pH 6.8. Acid hydrolysis affects primarily triazines and some
sulfonylurea herbicides. Soil pH influences adsorption and availability of some pesticides (such
as imidazolinones, sulfonylureas, triazines, and triazolopyrimidines) by determining the electrical
charge of the molecule. Molecules become negatively (-) charged when a proton (H+) is
removed or become positively (+) charged when a proton is added. Pesticide molecules are
adsorbed to soil particles when they become (+) charged due to attraction to (-) charges on soil
particles.
Pheromones - Chemicals emitted by an organism to influence the behavior of other organisms
of the same species.
Photodecomposition - The breakdown of pesticides by light, particularly sunlight.
Photodecomposition can destroy pesticides on foliage, on the surface of the soil, and even in
the air. Factors that influence pesticide photodecomposition include the intensity of the sunlight,
properties of the application site, the application method, and the properties of the pesticide.
Pesticide losses from photodecomposition can be reduced by incorporating the pesticide into
the soil during or immediately after application.
Phytotoxic - Injurious or lethal to plants.
Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) - An organic compound effective in minute amounts for
controlling or modifying plant growth processes without much phytotoxicity.
Plasmid - A circular piece of DNA that exists apart from the chromosome and replicates
independently of it. Bacterial plasmids carry information that renders the bacteria resistant to
antibiotics. Plasmids are often used in genetic engineering to carry desired genes into
organisms.
Plow Layer - The upper 6 2/3 inch of the soil profile, usually calculated as 2 million lbs/A. It is
always desirable to retain pesticides which reach the soil in the plow layer, where biological and
chemical reactions can degrade them to simple compounds like water and carbon dioxide.
Point Source - A stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged; any
single identifiable source of pollution; e.g., a pipe, ditch, ship, ore pit, factory smokestack.
Pollution, Pesticidal - Pesticides affecting the environment in undesirable ways. These
include effects on non-target organisms (plants, wildlife, humans, etc.) or sites (lakes, rivers,
groundwater, etc.) through over-application, drift, carryover, run-off, and leaching. Many
stewardship practices involving farm management and pesticide handling can reduce the
potential for contamination. There are many stewardship techniques which prevent or minimize
pollution, such as integrated pest management, careful selection, measuring, mixing, loading,
disposal, and storage of pesticides, accurate calibration and maintenance of application
equipment, careful consideration of the vulnerability of the area, proper location and upkeep of
wells, use of best management practices (such as leaving a border of untreated vegetation
between treated and sensitive areas), and delaying application if heavy or sustained rain is
predicted.
Porous Surfaces - Surfaces that have tiny openings, which allow liquid to be absorbed or to
pass through.
Postemergence (Post) - Application of a pesticide after emergence of the crop; or application
of an herbicide after emergence of the target weeds (may be pre or post to crop). The range of
growth stages of both crop and weeds are specified on herbicide labels to ensure proper
application timing.
Post-Harvest - An application of an insecticide or fungicide to the harvested commodity prior
to or in storage; or an application of an herbicide to fallow (unplanted) ground after crop
harvest.
Potable Water - Water that is safe and palatable for human consumption.
Precautionary Statement - Pesticide labeling statement that alerts you to possible hazards
from use of the pesticide product and that may indicate specific ways to avoid the hazards.
Predator - An organism that attacks, kills, and feeds on other organisms.
Preemergence (Pre) - Application of a pesticide after planting but before emergence of the
crop; or application of an herbicide before emergence of the target weeds (may be pre or post
to crop). The range of growth stages of both crop and weeds are specified on herbicide labels
to ensure proper application timing.
Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) - The time between the last pesticide application and harvest of
the treated crops.
Prepack - A pesticide formulation containing more than one active ingredient.
Preplant - Before planting or transplanting a crop, either as a foliar application to control
existing vegetation or as a soil application. Most commonly refers to herbicides.
Preplant Incorporated (PPI) - A preplant broadcast incorporated application (applied to the
entire soil surface and mixed in by tillage before crop seeding or transplanting).
Primary Infection - The first infection of a plant by the overwintering or oversummering
pathogen.
Primary Inoculum - The overwintering or oversummering pathogen, or its spores, that cause
primary infection.
Priority List - EPA's initiative to prioritize and/or expedite the review of regulatory
submissions. Priorities for EPA are as follows: methyl-bromide alternatives; OP alternatives that
pass the reduced-risk screen; other reduced-risk candidates; OP alternatives that are
recommended by the reduced-risk committee for expedited review; crops identified by USDA
and EPA as potentially vulnerable; minor use crop priorities; non-minor use priorities; and trade
irritants. In addition to the EPA priorities, the registrants may submit a list of their company
priorities that do not fit into a designated position in the EPA list, but are important registration
priorities to the registrant. EPA will place the registrant priorities into the EPA workplan and
they will proceed into review as EPA time and resource permits.
Propagule - The part of an organism that may be disseminated and reproduce the organism.
Protectant - See Antidote.
Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) - A waste-treatment works owned by a state,
unit of local government, or Indian tribe, usually designed to treat domestic wastewaters.
Public Water System (PWS) - A system that provides piped water for human consumption to
at least 15 service connections or regularly serves 25 individuals.
Qualitative Use Assessment - Report summarizing the major uses of a pesticide including
percentage of crop treated, and amount of pesticide used on a site.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) - The policy, procedures, and systematic
actions established in an enterprise for the purpose of providing and maintaining a specified
degree of confidence in data integrity and accuracy throughout the lifecycle of the data.
Quarantine - Control of import and export of plants to prevent spread of diseases and other
pests.
Raw Agricultural Commodity (RAC) - An unprocessed human food or animal feed crop
(e.g., raw carrots, apples, corn, or eggs).
Raw Water - Intake water prior to any treatment or use.
Reasonable Maximum Exposure - The maximum exposure reasonably expected to occur in
a population.
Reasonable Worst Case - An estimate of the individual dose, exposure, or risk level received
by an individual in a defined population that is greater than the 90th percentile but less than
that received by anyone in the 98th percentile in the same population.
Recharge Area - A land area in which water reaches the zone of saturation from surface
infiltration, e.g., where rainwater soaks through the earth to reach an aquifer.
Recharge Rate - The quantity of water per unit of time that replenishes or refills an aquifer.
Recombinant Bacteria - A microorganism whose genetic makeup has been altered by
deliberate introduction of new genetic elements. The offspring of these altered bacteria also
contain these new genetic elements; i.e. they "breed true."
Recombinant DNA - The new DNA that is formed by combining pieces of DNA from different
organisms or cells.
Reduced-Risk Pesticide - The status assigned to a pesticide by the EPA's Reduced-Risk
Committee, which determines that the pesticide is a reduced-risk to human health and the
environment when compared to the existing alternative products. The major incentive the EPA
offers to the manufacturers of Reduced-Risk pesticides is an expedited registration review
process. A reduced risk status does not guarantee that the product will get a registration.
Participation in the EPA Reduced-Risk initiative is voluntary, requiring that the registrant
prepare a reduced-risk rationale, or "safer" document, that presents the case for establishing a
pesticide as a reduced risk when compared to other existing pesticides currently being used to
control the same pests in the same crops. Significant characteristics for a pesticide to be placed
in the status of reduced-risk are reduced human health risks; low toxicity to beneficial insects,
birds, and fish; low potential for groundwater contamination; low use rates; low potential for
resistance; high compatibility for IPM; and highly efficacious.
Reduced-Risk Rationale - Participation in the EPA Reduced-Risk initiative is voluntary.
Consequently, the EPA requires information on the pesticide via the Reduced-Risk Rationale
(commonly referred to as a "safer" document). The document is compiled by the registrant and
presents the case for establishing a pesticide as a reduced risk when compared to other existing
pesticides currently being used to control the same pests in the same crops. The Reduced-Risk
Rationale is presented to the Reduced-Risk Committee for review and evaluation of the subject
pesticide. Significant characteristics for a pesticide to be placed in the status of reduced-risk
are: reduced human health risks; low toxicity to beneficial insects, birds, and fish; low potential
for groundwater contamination; low use rates; low potential for resistance; high compatibility
for IPM; and highly efficacious.
Reentry Interval (REI) - The period of time immediately following the application of a
pesticide during which unprotected workers should not enter a field.
Reference Dose (RfD) - The concentration of a chemical known to cause health problems;
also referred to as the ADI, or acceptable daily intake. Also defined as an estimate (with
uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of the daily exposure (mg/kg/day) to the
human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without risk of deleterious
effects during a lifetime. The RfD is a benchmark dose derived from the No Observed Adverse
Effect Level (NOAEL) or Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) by application of
uncertainty factors that reflect various types of data used to estimate RfDs and an additional
modifying factor, which is based on a professional judgment of the entire database of the
chemical. RFD = NOAEL or LOAEL / (UF * MF). See Uncertainty Factor.
Renovation - Establishment of desirable legumes and grasses in grass sod without plowing.
Reregistration Eligibility Document (RED) - RED's summarize the finding of the review
process and reflect EPA's decision to impose any new conditions on the use of a pesticide, to
call-in product specific data, or to take other actions on an existing product registration. RED's
also involve the "Special Review" process, which requires risk and benefit analyses along with
the opportunity for public comment processes.
Residue - The part of a pesticide or its metabolites that remains in the environment (in the
soil, in water, or on plants or animals) for a period of time following application or a spill. Also
see Soil Residue.
Resistance to Pesticides - Adaptation of a pest to withstand exposure to a pesticide that it
was susceptible to in the past. There is no general agreement as to the distinction between
tolerance and resistance, but there are a variety of strategies to reduce the development of
resistance. Plant pest-resistant crop varieties, maintain competitive crop growth, and rotate
crops, particularly those with different life cycles and thus different pest problems. Do not use
pesticides with the same mode of action in the different crops unless other effective control
practices are also included. Use pesticides only when necessary (based on economic
thresholds), rotate pesticides with different modes of action, and apply pesticides in tank-mix,
prepacks or sequential applications which include multiple modes of action and are effective on
the potentially resistance species. Alternate or combine with non-pesticide control methods.
Control alternate hosts of insects and diseases, use tillage (but avoid erosion), use biocontrol if
available, and use preventative control where resistance is occurring. Scout fields regularly and
respond quickly to changes in pest populations. Clean tillage and harvest equipment before
moving from fields infested with resistant species. Individuals responsible for total vegetation
control in non-crop situations must also be vigilant because high rates used in these programs
favor resistance.
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment - A national not-for-profit trade
association representing producers and suppliers of specialty pesticides and fertilizers.
Established in 1991, RISE serves as a resource and advocate on pesticides and fertilizers and
provides information on issues and research affecting the industry. The association also
monitors legislative and regulatory issues in Washington, D.C. and in the states. Specialy
pesticide uses include structural pest control, turf and ornamentals, vegetation management,
nursery and greenhouse, forestry, aquatics, and public health.
Restricted Entry Interval (REI) - The time after a pesticide application during which entry
into the treated area is restricted.
Restricted-Use Pesticide - A pesticide that is available for purchase and use only by certified
pesticide applicators or persons under their direct supervision, because it requires special
handling due to a relatively high potential for human, environmental, or other hazards.
Rinsate - Pesticide-containing water (or another liquid) that results from rinsing a pesticide
container, pesticide equipment, or other pesticide-containing materials.
Riparian Buffer - Trees, shrubs, and/or permanent grasses planted along a stream or river to
intercept pollutants and erosion.
Riparian Buffer
Riparian Habitat - Areas adjacent to rivers and streams with a differing density, diversity, and
productivity of plant and animal species relative to nearby uplands.
Risk Assessment - Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human health
and/or the environment by the actual or potential presence and/or use of specific pollutants.
Risk Cup - An analogy used by the EPA to visualize the risk for aggregate exposure estimates
as well as cumulative exposure estimates. The aggregate exposure estimate is the total
allowance for exposures to a single pesticide. The cumulative exposure estimate is the total
allowance for exposures to a number of pesticides having the same mode and/or mechanism of
action. This includes both dietary and residential exposure. (Note: Cumulative exposure
estimates are currently being defined for pesticides with the same mode and/or mechanism of
action). For more information, refer to the aggregate risk and cumulative risk definitions
described below. The full-cup represents the total allowable reference dose, including all
uncertainty factors considered by the toxicity of the pesticide. If a risk cup is full or exceeded,
no new uses can be approved until the risk level is lowered. For example, the registrant could
provide new data indicating lower exposures or hazards for consideration by the EPA. Also see
FQPA.
1. Aggregate Risk - The aggregate risk is an assessment of combined exposures (nonoccupational human exposure and risk from a single chemical) by all relevant pathways
or routes of exposure. EPA is currently considering food, drinking water, and
residential scenarios for oral exposure and residential scenarios for exposure through
the skin.
2. Cumulative Risk - FQPA requires that the Agency assess the potential risk of
cumulative exposure to related chemicals which share a common mechanism of
toxicity. The organophosphate pesticides were selected as the first group of related
pesticides to be examined for cumulative effects. The EPA is searching the available
data and compiling tables, or matrices, which display information, crop by crop, about
the amount of each OP pesticide used, what critical pests it is used to combat, and,
where available, information about regional differences in use patterns. These draft
matrices are being posted to the Internet to allow public access.
Risk (Adverse) for Endangered Species - Risk to aquatic species if anticipated pesticide
residue levels equal one-fifth of LD10 or one-tenth of LC50; risk to terrestrial species if
anticipated pesticide residue levels equal one-fifth of LC10 or one-tenth of LC50.
Risk for Non-Endangered Species - Risk to species if anticipated pesticide residue levels are
equal to or greater than LC50.
Rosette - The overwintering stage of winter annual, biennial, and certain perennial broadleaf
plants characterized by tightly clustered leaves before the internodes expand and flowering
occurs; weeds are usually more resistant to herbicides once they reach this stage.
Route of Exposure - The avenue by which a chemical comes into contact with an organism,
e.g., inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact, injection.
Runoff - The movement of rainfall, snow melt, or irrigation water across the land over a
sloping surface rather than through the soil; the latter is leaching. Runoff occurs when water is
applied faster than it can infiltrate the soil, and is a major transporter of non-point source
pollutants into rivers, streams, and lakes. Pesticides and other chemicals from the air and land
can be carried in the water itself or bound to eroding soil particles. The severity of pesticide
runoff depends on the slope or grade of an area; the erodibility, texture and moisture content
of the soil; and the amount and timing of rainfall and irrigation. Pesticide runoff usually is
greatest when a heavy or sustained rain follows soon after an application. Over-irrigation can
lead to excess surface water; it also can lead to pesticide runoff, especially when an irrigation
system is used to apply a pesticide. Vegetation or crop residue tends to slow the movement of
runoff water. Certain physical and chemical properties of the pesticide, such as how quickly it is
absorbed by plants or how tightly it is bound to plant tissue or soil, are also important. Pesticide
runoff can contaminate ground or surface waters, harm aquatic organisms in streams, lakes,
and ponds, or cause injury to crops, livestock or humans if the contaminated water is used
downstream. Runoff can be reduced by monitoring weather conditions, careful application of
irrigation water, using a spray mix additive to enhance pesticide retention on foliage, and
incorporating the pesticide into the soil. Reduced-tillage cropping systems and surface grading,
in addition to BMPs such as contour planting and strip cropping of untreated vegetation, can
slow the movement of runoff water and help keep it out of wells, sinkholes, water bodies and
other sensitive areas.
Runoff Application - A pesticide application where spray is applied until it begins to drip off
the plant leaves.
Safener - A chemical added to a pesticide to keep it from injuring plants. See Antidote.
Safe Drinking Water Act - Act passed in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the
nation’s public drinking water supply. SDWA applies to every public water system in the United
States (>170,000), but does not regulate private wells that serve fewer than 25 individuals.
SDWA provides a framework in which USEPA, states, tribes, water systems and the public work
together to protect the public drinking water supply.
Safe Water - Water that does not contain harmful bacteria, toxic materials, or chemicals, and
is considered safe for drinking even if it may have taste, odor, color, and certain mineral
problems.
Saturated Zone - The area below the water table where all open spaces are filled with water
under pressure equal to or greater than that of the atmosphere.
Scouting - Regularly searching for, identifying, and assessing numbers of pests and the
damage they are causing.
Secondary Infection - Any infection caused by secondary inoculum, which is produced as a
result of a primary or a subsequent infection.
Secondary Inoculum - Inoculum produced by infections that took place earlier during the
same growing season.
Selective - A pesticide that is more toxic to some weeds, insects, or diseases than to others.
Sensitive Areas - Sites or organisms that are particularly vulnerable to harmful effects from
pesticides.
Side-Dress - Application of fertilizer (or fertilizer plus pesticide) beside the rows of emerged
row crops like corn or cotton.
Signal Words - The words used on a pesticide label -Danger, Warning, Caution - to indicate
level of toxicity.
Sink - Place in the environment where a compound or material collects.
Sod - The close network of roots and rhizomes of one or more grass species.
Soil Application - Application of an herbicide made primarily to the soil surface rather than to
vegetation.
Soil Conditioner - An organic material like humus or compost that helps soil absorb water,
build a bacterial community, and take up mineral nutrients.
Soil Erodibility - An indicator of a soil's susceptibility to raindrop impact, runoff, and other
erosive processes.
Soil Incorporation - Mechanical mixing or leaching in with water of a pesticide into the
surface soil to facilitate uptake by pests or crop, or to reduce its loss by volatility or
photodecomposition.
Soil Residual Life - The length of time that a pesticide remains active in the soil.
Soil Residue - When a pesticide remains in the soil after the target crop has been harvested.
Soil Texture - Relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. Soils with high sensitivity to
groundwater contamination have a coarse texture (high proportion of sand) and relatively low
relief.
Soil Water Zone - The zone extending from the land surface down through the major root
zone, capable of holding water. Therefore, its total depth is variable and is dependent upon soil
type and vegetation. This zone is unsaturated except during periods of heavy infiltration and
percolation.
Solvent - A liquid, such as water, kerosene, xylene, or alcohol, that will dissolve a pesticide (or
other substance) to form a solution.
Special Review - Formerly known as Rebuttable Presumption Against Registration (RPAR),
this is the regulatory process through which existing pesticides suspected of posing
unreasonable risks to human health, non-target organisms, or the environment are referred for
review by EPA. Such review requires an intensive risk/benefit analysis with opportunity for
public comment. If risk is found to outweigh social and economic benefits, regulatory actions
can be initiated, ranging from label revisions and use restrictions to cancellation or suspended
registration.
Species - A reproductively isolated aggregate of interbreeding organisms having common
attributes and usually designated by a common name.
Specific Conductance - Rapid method of estimating the dissolved solid content of a water
supply by testing its capacity to carry an electrical current.
Spore - The reproductive unit of fungi consisting of one or more cells; it is analogous to the
seed of green plants.
Spot Treatment - An herbicide application to random areas of the field, where patches of
weeds exist. This practice is particularly common for hard-to-control perennials in pastures or
rangeland, where broadcast application would be wasteful, cost prohibitive, and/or injurious to
the crop.
Spot Treatment
Sprayers 1. Air-Blast - Similar to a high pressure sprayer in use, advantages, and disadvantages,
except pump pressure is low because air moves the spray droplets.
2. High Pressure (Hydraulic) - A pesticide sprayer providing better coverage and
penetration than low pressure sprayers, and thus commonly used for insecticide and
fungicide applications on fruits, vegetables, trees, and landscape plants. Cost and drift
are greater with a high versus a low pressure sprayer.
3. Low Pressure - The most common pesticide sprayer for field crops, pastures, non-crop
use, and most herbicide applications, characterized by low volume, low pump pressure,
and limited agitation
Spray Solution - What is applied to the field when a pesticide formulation is added to a liquid
carrier (water, liquid fertilizer, oil, etc.) in the spray tank. The spray "solution" is actually a true
solution, an emulsion, or a suspension, depending on whether the pesticide formulation
dissolves, disperses, or is suspended in the carrier. Emulsions and suspensions can settle
without proper agitation before and during application.
Spring - Groundwater seeping out of the earth where the water table intersects the ground
surface.
State Management Plan - Under FIFRA, a plan required by EPA to allow states, tribes, and
U.S. territories the flexibility to design and implement ways to protect groundwater from the
use of certain pesticides.
Static Water Level - Elevation or level of the water table in a well when the pump is not
operating.
Strip Cropping - Densely seeded crops alternated with row crops or fallow in long narrow strips
across the slope or across the direction of the wind to prevent erosion.
Strip Cropping
Subchronic Exposure - Multiple or continuous exposures lasting for approximately ten
percent of an experimental species' lifetime, usually over a three-month period.
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - Vegetation that lives at or below the water surface; an
important habitat for young fish and other aquatic organisms.
Superchlorination - Chlorination with doses that are deliberately selected to produce water
free of combined residuals, and so large that dechlorination is subsequently needed.
Superfund - The program that funds and carries out EPA solid waste emergency and longterm removal and remedial activities. These activities include establishing the National Priorities
List, investigating sites for inclusion on the list, determining their priority, and conducting
and/or supervising cleanup and other remedial actions.
Supplemental Registration - An arrangement whereby a registrant licenses another
company to market its pesticide product under the second company's registration.
Surface Drains - Ditches or swales that are designed to help remove excess water from the
land surface to a conveyance channel. These are usually constructed as broad, shallow
channels that can be crossed with field machinery.
Surface Water - Water stored or flowing at the earth's surface, including natural bodies of
water such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, as well as constructed (artificial)
water reservoirs such as canals, man-made lakes, irrigation ditches, and storm water drains.
Surface water is linked to both groundwater and atmospheric water through the hydrologic
cycle. Surface water moves into groundwater by infiltrating the soil and percolating downward;
it also enters the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. Likewise, water from the
atmosphere and groundwater can recharge surface waters. Atmospheric water falls as
precipitation: rain, sleet, hail and snow. Groundwater that moves to the earth's surface
contributes to the base flow of streams, lakes, wetlands and other waterways. Precipitation
initially infiltrates the top layers of the soil. Continuing precipitation may saturate the upper few
inches of the soil, temporarily exceeding its capacity to hold water. Water accumulates on the
land surface and moves to lower elevations through surface runoff and may occur across a
small or large area. A surface water system is characterized by its watershed or drainage basin.
Surface Water Treatment Rule - Rule that specifies maximum contaminant level goals for
Giardia lamblia, viruses, and Legionella and promulgates filtration and disinfection requirements
for public water systems using surface water or ground water sources under the direct influence
of surface water. The regulations also specify water quality, treatment, and watershed
protection criteria under which filtration may be avoided.
Surfactant - An additive that improves the emulsifying, dispersing, spreading, wetting, or
other properties of a pesticide spray by modifying its surface characteristics.
Susceptible Species - A pest capable of being injured or killed by moderate application rates
of a pesticide.
Suspended Solids/Suspended Loads - Small particles of solid pollutants that float on the
surface of, or are suspended in, water or sewage. They are maintained by turbulence and resist
removal by conventional means.
Suspension - A substance that contains undissolved particles mixed throughout a liquid.
Sustainable Agriculture - A way of practicing agriculture which seeks to optimize skills and
technology to achieve long-term stability of the agricultural enterprise, environmental
protection, and consumer safety. It is achieved through management strategies which help the
producer select hybrids and varieties, soil conserving cultural practices, soil fertility programs,
and pest management programs. Sustainable farming practices commonly include crop
rotations, integrated pest management techniques, increased mechanical/biological weed
control, more soil and water conservation practices, strategic use of animal and green manures,
and use of natural or synthetic inputs in a way that poses no significant hazard to man,
animals, or the environment.
Swamp - A type of wetland dominated by woody vegetation but without appreciable peat
deposits. Swamps may be fresh or salt water and tidal or non-tidal. See Wetland.
Synergism - An interaction of two or more pesticides such that their combined effect is greater
than the predicted effect based on the response to each pesticide applied separately.
Systemic (Translocated) Pesticide- A pesticide that is absorbed and circulated through the
vascular system of a plant or animal from the point of entry. Systemic herbicides kill plants by
moving to various sites of action, while systemic fungicides and insecticides make the whole
plant or animal toxic to pests that feed on it.
Tailings - Residue of raw material or waste separated out during the processing of crops or
mineral ores.
Tail Water - The runoff of irrigation water from the lower end of an irrigated field.
Tank Mixture - Combining two or more pesticides or agricultural chemicals in the spray tank
at the time of application. The recommended sequence for addition of two or more formulations
to a tank partially filled with water follows the W.A.L.E.S. method: wettable powders or dry
flowables -> agitation -> liquid flowables or suspensions -> emulsifiable concentrates or
solutions -> surfactants, crop oils, and other adjuvants. Non-registered tank mixes may be
applied if all pesticides in the mixture are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency on
the crop being treated. However, compatibility testing should be done if the tank mixture is not
listed on the label, because the user assumes liability for crop injury and inadequate weed
control if the combination is not a labeled tank mixture. Several pesticide combinations have
been shown to increase crop injury compared to either pesticide applied alone. For example,
crop injury may increase from combinations of bentazon plus malathion, sulfonylurea herbicides
plus organophosphate insecticides, and propanil plus organophosphate or carbamate
insecticides. Increased crop injury has even occurred with sequential applications of these
pesticides.
Target - The site or pest toward which control measures are being directed.
Technical Grade Active Ingredient (TGAI) - A pesticide chemical in pure form as it is
manufactured prior to being formulated into an end-use product (e.g., wettable powders,
granules, emulsifiable concentrates). Registered manufactured products composed of such
chemicals are known as Technical Grade Products.
Teratogenesis - The introduction of nonhereditary birth defects in a developing fetus by
exogenous factors such as physical or chemical agents acting in the womb to interfere with
normal embryonic development.
Teratogenic - Capable of producing birth defects.
Terrace - An earthen embankment around a hillside perpendicular to the slope
and approximately on a contour, that stops water flow and stores it or guides it
safely off a field. Terraces break long slopes into shorter ones. As water makes
its way down a hill, terraces serve as small dams to intercept water and guide it
to an outlet. There are two basic types of terraces - storage terraces and
gradient terraces. Storage terraces collect water and store it until it can infiltrate
into the ground or be released through a stable outlet. Gradient terraces are
designed as a channel to slow runoff water and carry it to a stable outlet like a
grassed waterway.
Theoretical Maximum Residue Contribution - The theoretical maximum amount of a
pesticide in the daily diet of an average person. It assumes that the diet is composed of all food
items for which there are tolerance level residues of the pesticide. The TMRC is expressed as
milligrams of pesticide/kilograms of body weight/day.
Thermal Stratification - The formation of layers of different temperatures in a lake or
reservoir.
Thermocline - The middle layer of a thermally stratified lake or reservoir, where there is a
rapid decrease in temperatures.
Threshold - The lowest dose of a chemical at which a specified measurable effect (often an
adverse effect) is observed and below which it is not observed.
Threshold Level - Time-weighted average pollutant concentration values, exposure beyond
which is likely to adversely affect human health.
Threshold Limit Value (TLV) - The concentration of an airborne substance to which an
average person can be repeatedly exposed without adverse effects. TLVs may be expressed in
three ways - (1) TLV-TWA--Time weighted average, based on an allowable exposure averaged
over a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour workweek; (2) TLV-STEL--Short-term exposure limit
or maximum concentration for a brief specified period of time, depending on a specific chemical
(TWA must still be met); and (3) TLV-C--Ceiling Exposure Limit or maximum exposure
concentration not to be exceeded under any circumstances (TWA must still be met).
Tidal Marsh - Low, flat marshlands traversed by channels and tidal hollows, subject to tidal
inundation; normally, the only types of vegetation present are salt-tolerant bushes and grasses.
See Wetland.
Tillage - Mechanical soil stirring operations carried on prior to seeding the crop. Various types
of equipment are used for tillage, depending on the objective of the tillage. The type and
quality of tillage has important environmental impacts. The goal is always optimum
pulverization and partial residue coverage because too little or too much will increase run-off.
The goal of the final tillage operation (seedbed preparation) is optimum soil particle size
reduction to allow close soil contact with the seed while maintaining pores for water and air
movement, and a rough surface that dries rapidly and won't germinate weeds. Cultivation is the
preferred term after seeding the crop, though the terms are often used
synonymously.
Tillage, Conservation - A broad range of soil tillage systems that
leave 30% or more residue cover on the soil surface after planting,
substantially reducing the effects of soil erosion from wind and water.
These practices also minimize runoff of water, nutrients, and pesticides,
improving water storage capacity and farm sustainability. The soil is left
undisturbed from harvest to planting except for nutrient amendment.
Weed control is accomplished primarily with herbicides, limited cultivation, and cover crops.
Where soil erosion by wind is the primary concern, this is any system that maintains at least
1,000 pounds per acre of flat, small grain residue equivalent on the surface throughout the
critical wind erosion period. Some specific types of conservation tillage are minimum tillage,
zone tillage, no-till, ridge-till, mulch-till, strip-till, and rotational tillage. Reduced-till is NOT a
conservation tillage system, but is also defined here.
No-till
Ridge-till
1. Minimum-till - Any practice that either eliminates seedbed preparation as a separate
operation or combines it with the planting operation.
2. Mulch-till - The soil is disturbed prior to planting. Tillage tools such as chisels, field
cultivators, disks, sweeps or blades are used. Weed control is accomplished with
herbicides and/or cultivation.
3. No-till - A planting system where the soil is left undisturbed from harvest to planting
except for nutrient injection. Planting or drilling is accomplished in a narrow seedbed
or slot created by coulters, row cleaners, disk openers, in-row chisels or rototillers.
Weed control is accomplished primarily with herbicides. Cultivation may be used for
emergency weed control. Although no-till reduces soil erosion, it may increase the
number of soil macropores and pesticide movement through them. Where this is a
major factor in water movement, no-till should be modified to include some tillage to
disrupt macropore connections with the surface.
4. Reduced-till - Tillage types that leave 15-30 percent residue cover after planting or
500 to 1,000 pounds per acre of small grain residue equivalent throughout the critical
wind erosion period.
5. Ridge-till - The soil is left undisturbed from harvest to planting except for nutrient
injection. Planting is completed in a seedbed prepared on ridges with sweeps, disk
openers, coulters, or row cleaners. Residue is left on the surface between ridges.
Weed control is accomplished with herbicides and/or cultivation. Ridges are rebuilt
during cultivation.
6. Strip-till - A modification of no-till, mulch-till or other tillage types. Less than 25% row
width disturbance is considered no-till. More than 25% row width disturbance is
considered mulch-till or another tillage type depending on the amount of residue left
after planting.
7. Zone-till - A modification of no-till, mulch-till or other tillage types. Less than 25% row
width disturbance is considered no-till. More than 25% row width disturbance is
considered mulch-till or another tillage type depending on the amount of residue left
after planting.
Tillage, Conventional - Tillage types that leave less than 15 percent residue cover after
planting, or less than 500 pounds per acre of small grain residue equivalent throughout the
critical wind erosion period. Generally involves plowing or intensive tillage.
Tillage Equipment - (listed approximately in order from primary tillage to final seedbed
preparation)
1. Moldboard Plow
2. Standard Disk Plow - 4-10 inch tillage for problem areas such as hard or rocky soil or
many roots.
Vertical Disk Plow
Chisel Plow
3. Vertical Disk Plow - shallow tillage and incomplete residue coverage.
4. Lister - resembles a double moldboard plus planting attachments, therefore plowing
only a portion of the field and resulting in high moisture retention and reduced soil and
wind erosion.
5. Middlebreaker - lister without the planting attachments, to make ridges or beds on
which to prepare a seedbed on soils with poor internal drainage.
6. Subsoiler - breaks up deep (20in) compacted layers of soil to improve their internal
drainage; no soil inversion so wind and water erosion are reduced.
7. Chisel Plow - breaks up 10-12 inches deep; no soil inversion so wind and water erosion
are reduced.
8. Rotary Tiller - uniformly pulverizes the soil and incorporates plant residues and
chemicals; should be avoided on sloped land because fine seedbed is conducive to
wind and water erosion.
9. Strip Tiller - rotary tiller that pulverizes strips; less conducive to wind and water
erosion if strips run parallel to the contour (perpendicular to the slope).
10. Cultivator - breaks up 3-5 inches deep with no soil inversion; also used for final
seedbed preparation.
11. Disk Harrow - for final seedbed preparation; produces a seedbed finer than a field
cultivator but not as fine as a roller harrow.
12. . Roller Harrow (Cultimulcher) - for final seedbed preparation in residue-free
situations.
Tip-and-Pour - Built-in measuring device that fills with a given amount of pesticide when the
container is tilted.
Tolerance - (1) Inborn or acquired ability of plants, insects, fungi, etc. to continue normal
growth or function when exposed to a potentially harmful agent. There is no general agreement
as to the distinction between tolerance and resistance. See Resistance to Pesticides. (2) The
maximum amount of a pesticide residue, in parts per million (ppm), that may remain in or on
the raw agricultural commodity or its processed fractions. Whenever a pesticide is registered for
use on a food or a feed crop, a tolerance (or exemption from the tolerance requirement) must
be established. The tolerance is established by the EPA and is enforced by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Total Dissolved Solids(TDS) - All material that passes the standard glass river filter; now
called total filterable residue.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) - An assessment of water quality problems and
contributing pollutant sources (incl. pesticides). It identifies numeric targets based on applicable
water quality standards (WQS), specifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be
discharged, allocates pollutant loads among sources, and provides a basis for taking actions
needed to meet the numeric target(s) and implement WQS's. The goal of a TMDL is to attain
state water quality standards.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) - A measure of the suspended solids in wastewater, effluent,
or water bodies, determined by tests for total suspended non-filterable solids. See Suspended
Solids.
Toxic Substance Control Act – Act that provides information about all chemicals and controls
the production of new chemicals that might present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or
the environment. TSCA authorizes EPA to require testing of old and new chemical substances,
and provides authority to regulate the manufacturing, processing, import and use of chemicals.
Toxicity - The degree to which a substance or mixture of substances can harm humans or
animals. Acute toxicity involves harmful effects in an organism through a single or short-term
exposure. Chronic toxicity is the ability of a substance or mixture of substances to cause
harmful effects over an extended period, usually upon repeated or continuous exposure
sometimes lasting for the entire life of the exposed organism. Subchronic toxicity is the ability
of the substance to cause effects for some period of time between acute and chronic time
frames (ranging from 5 days to more than 1 year, depending in part upon the species
evaluated).
Toxicity Assessment - Characterization of the toxicological properties and effects of a
chemical, with special emphasis on establishment of dose-response characteristics. See DoseResponse.
Toxicity Testing - Biological testing (usually with an invertebrate, fish, or small mammal) to
determine the adverse effects of a compound or effluent.
Transient Non-Community Water System (TNCWS) - A non-community water system
that does not serve 25 of the same nonresidents per day for more than six months per year.
Translocated - See Systemic.
Trophic Levels - A functional classification of species that is based on feeding relationships
(e.g., generally aquatic and terrestrial green plants comprise the first trophic level, and
herbivores comprise the second).
Turbidity - 1. Haziness in air caused by the presence of particles and pollutants. 2. A cloudy
condition in water due to suspended silt or organic matter.
Ultra Low Volume (ULV) - A formulation which requires no additional liquid prior to
application through specialized ULV equipment able to apply <0.5 gpa.
Uncertainty Factor (UF) - One of several factors used in calculating the reference dose from
experimental data. UFs are intended to account for (1) the variation in sensitivity among
humans; (2) the uncertainty in extrapolating animal data to humans; (3) the uncertainty in
extrapolating data obtained in a study that covers less than the full life of the exposed animal or
human; and (4) the uncertainty in using lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) data
rather than no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) data.
Underground Sources of Drinking Water - Aquifers currently being used as a source of
drinking water or those capable of supplying a public water system. They have a total dissolved
solids content of 10,000 milligrams per liter or less.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Government agency that provides
leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues. The USDA expands
markets for US agricultural products, supports international economic development, provides
financing to improve rural America, enhances food safety by taking steps to reduce the
prevalence of foodborne hazards, provides nutrition education, and manages America’s public
and private lands by working cooperatively with other levels of government and the private
sector.
Unreasonable Risk - Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA),
unreasonable adverse effects posing unacceptable risk to man or the environment, taking into
account the medical, economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of the pesticide.
Unsaturated Zone - The area above the water table where soil pores are not fully saturated,
although some water may be present.
Vadose Zone - The zone between land surface and the water table within which the moisture
content is less than saturation (except in the capillary fringe) and pressure is less than
atmospheric. Soil pore space also typically contains air or other gases. The capillary fringe is
included in the vadose zone. See Unsaturated Zone.
Vapor Drift - The movement of a pesticide as a vapor from the area of application usually
after the spray droplets have impinged on the target. Also see Drift.
Volatile - Evaporating rapidly; turning easily into a gas or vapor.
Volatile Liquids - Liquids which easily vaporize or evaporate at room temperature.
Volatilization - A process that converts a solid or liquid into a gas. Once volatilized, a pesticide
can move in air currents away from the treated surface. Vapor pressure is an important factor
in determining whether a pesticide will volatilize. The higher the vapor pressure, the more
volatile the pesticide. Certain environmental conditions (high temperature, low relative
humidity, air movement, wet soil) increase volatilization. A pesticide tightly adsorbed to soil
particles is less likely to volatilize; thus, soil texture, organic matter content, and soil moisture
influence pesticide volatilization. Labels often provide warnings if there is a volatility hazard
under certain conditions, and may suggest incorporation or irrigation within a certain time
period. Low-volatile formulations are also available for some pesticides.
Water and Sediment Control Basin - A short earthen dam built across a drainageway where
a terrace is impractical; usually part of a terrace system. An embankment is built across a
depressional area of concentrated water runoff to act similar to a terrace. It traps sediment and
water running off farmland above the structure, preventing it from reaching farmland below.
Water-Based Pesticides - Pesticides that use water as the only diluent or carrier.
Water Quality - The chemical, physical, biological, and radiological condition of a surface or
ground water body.
Water Quality Criteria - Levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable
for its designated use. Criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that would make the
water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish production, or industrial processes.
Watershed - The area of land draining to a specific water outlet (stream, reservoir, etc.); the
boundary is defined by the region's topography. Watersheds vary in size and can be nested
within other larger watersheds. Land use within a watershed largely determines the quality of
the local surface water. The quality of water leaving a watershed can, in turn, affect the
cumulative quality of water far downstream. For example, pesticides detected in a city's
drinking water supply could come from lawn and other urban uses or from an upstream
watershed where agriculture is predominant.
Water Storage Pond/Water Treatment Lagoon - An impound for liquid wastes designed
to accomplish some degree of biochemical treatment.
Water Table- The upper level of the groundwater in an area. The water table level fluctuates
throughout the year, lowering as water is removed from wells or discharged at streams and
springs. The water table rises through recharge from rain and melting snow that seeps through
soil into the aquifer. For years it was believed that the natural filtering of water during its slow
movement through the soil, sand, gravel and rock formations was adequate to cleanse it of
contaminants before it reached groundwater. Today, many chemicals, including some
pesticides, have been detected in groundwater. Studies have shown that recharge can carry
pollutants down to aquifers. Furthermore, it is clear that human activities can lead to
contamination of the recharge water.
Waterway - Any channel, natural or constructed, in which water flows.
Weir - A barrier or dam across a channel to increase water depth and control flow.
Well - A direct conduit from the land surface to groundwater, where pesticides can move
directly and rapidly into groundwater. Pesticides can reach groundwater by moving along the
outside of the well casing or by entering an improperly capped or sealed well. The method of
well construction, the frequency of well inspection and maintenance, and the proximity of a well
to pesticides are important factors determining the potential for contamination. Potential
sources of both surface and subsurface contamination by pesticides include sites used for
storage, mixing, loading, disposal, or application or where equipment is cleaned. Locate and
construct new wells according to building codes and site conditions. Inform the well contractor
of old dumping pits and pesticide mixing areas. Consider future farm expansion in selecting a
site away from changes in pesticide handling and land use that will increase the risk of
contamination . Well casing forms the wall of a well. A cement compound of grout is forced into
the space between the bore hole and the outside of the well casing to prevent water and
contaminants from moving down along the outside of the casing into groundwater. Gravel, sand
and other permeable materials are not adequate. The top of the casing must be capped about 8
inches above the ground or at least high enough to prevent surface water from entering the top
of the well. Proper well construction includes check-valves to prevent back-siphoning; checkvalves can also be added to an existing system. Soil can be graded, or diversion terraces or
ditches can be built upslope to intercept or divert surface runoff from the wellhead. Plug
abandoned wells with materials that will not allow settling in the future. Never use abandoned
wells to dispose of any form of garbage or hazardous material. Some pesticide labels provide
minimum distances between pesticide handling and the well location.
Well Field - Area containing one or more wells that produce usable amounts of water.
Wellhead Protection Area - A designated surface and subsurface area surrounding a well or
well field that supplies a public water supply and through which contaminants or pollutants are
likely to pass and eventually reach the aquifer that supplies the well or well field. The purpose
of designating the area is to provide protection from the potential of contamination of the water
supply. These areas are designated in accordance with laws, regulations, and plans that protect
public drinking water supplies.
Wetland - A land area that is inundated or saturated by surface and/or ground water with a
frequency and duration sufficient to support an abundance of hydrophytic (water-loving) plants
or other aquatic life that require permanently saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions
for growth and reproduction. Examples include swamps, marshes, bogs, sloughs, potholes, wet
meadows, river overflow areas, mud flats, and natural ponds.
Winter Annual - A plant that starts from seed in the fall, lives over winter (usually in a
dormant state), and completes its growth, including seed production, the following season.
Worker Protection Standard - Regulation that provides agricultural workers and pesticide
handlers in agriculture with protections against possible exposure and harm from pesticides in
the workplace.
Zero Tolerance - Indicates that no detectable amount of the specified pesticide may remain
on the raw agricultural commodity when it is sold or utilized.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Photographs Courtesy Of USDA-NRCS. Initial Consolidated Terminology List Courtesy of
Syngenta Crop Protection.
Agricultural Terminology Links
Terminology Page
Agricultural Terms, Programs, and Laws
http://www.agriculture.house.gov/info/glossary.html
Agriculture (general):
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/MISC2/SB661.PDF
http://www.pfb.com/resources/ag-information/glossary-of-ag-terms.htm
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/glossary.html
Biotechnology:
http://plpa.cfans.umn.edu/~neviny/cfan1501/definitions.html
Entomology:
http://www.bijlmakers.com/glossary/glosearch.htm
Environment:
http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/aterms.html
Pesticides/Pests:
http://www.pesticide.org/LearningGlossary.pdf
Phytopathology:
http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/glossary/Glossary.htm
http://www.apsnet.org/education/IllustratedGlossary/default.htm
Water:
http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/glossary.html
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/dictionary.html
Many Glossaries:
http://www.jump.net/~fdietz/glossary.htm
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