Pesticide Formulations and Adjuvants Montana State University Pesticide Safety Education Program

What is a formulation? How a pesticide is packaged. Contains: – –Active Ingredient – –Inert Ingredient

Active Ingredients Has the pesticide effect Its on the label Properties of the a.i. influences the type of formulation

Inert Ingredients “Inactive” ingredients mixed with a.i. To make formulation easier to handle or store. Toxic or non-toxic

Types of Formulations Wet – –More easily absorbed Dry – –More easily inhaled

Liquid Formulations (Wet) EC – emulsifiable concentrate S – soluble

Soluble Advantage: – –☺ Will not separate or settle out when mixed with water. – –☺ Not as harmful to non-target plants and animals Disadvantage: – –Not many disadvantages. – –Readily absorbs into skin

Emulsified Concentrates ADVANTAGES – –☺ Little agitation required. Won’t settle out when equipment is turned off. – –☺ Relatively non-abrasive. – –☺ Easy to handle, store and transport DISADVANTAGES – – Because of the solvents and emulsifiers, EC’s are a hazard to non-target plants and animals. – – Easily absorbed through skin of plants and humans. – – Solvents may cause rubber or plastic hoses & gaskets to deteriorate.

Dry Formulations WP – Wettable powder F or DF – Dry Flowable WDG – Water Dispersible Granule D -Dust P or G – Pellets or Granules M or ME – Micro-Encapsulated

Wettable Powders ADVANTAGES – –☺ Easy to store & transport. Smaller packaging. Won’t freeze. – –☺ Less inert ingredients in formulation. – –☺ Lower toxicity to plants than liquid formulations. – –The inert ingredients, clay or talc, are generally harmless to plants DISADVANTAGES – –Inhalation hazard when pouring and mixing. It’s dry! – – Needs vigorous & constant agitation in the spray tank. – – Abrasive to many pumps and nozzles.

Flowable ADVANTAGES ☺ Easy to handle and apply ☺ Seldom clogs nozzles. Finer ground carrier. DISADVANTAGES May leave visible residue. Requires agitation

Effects of Different Formulations FormulationsHazardsPhytoxEquipmentAgitateCompactable M or ME Dermal Safe okYes Fair G or P Inhale Safe NA NA NA D Inhale Safe NA NA NA S Dermal Safe Non-abrasive No Fair F or FL Dermal Maybe abrasive Yes Fair EC Dermal Maybe Seals, gaskets No Fair WP Inhale Safe abrasive Yes High

Interaction problems with combining Formulations Additive effects Synergistic responses Antagonism Enhancement

Adjuvants Additives that are added to a spray solution in order to enhance or modify the performance of the spray mixture. #1 - Surfactants/wetting agents #2 - Oils #3 - Fertilizers #4 – Utility Anti-foaming agents Compatibility agents Drift control agents Emulsification aids Suspension aids

#1 – Surfactants / Oils A broad category of adjuvants that facilitate and enhance the absorbing, emulsifying, dispersing, spreading, sticking, wetting and penetrating properties of pesticides. Some pesticides like Roundup Pro already have surfactants added. (14.5 %)

Why Surfactants Because of the high surface tension of water, spray mixture droplets maintain their roundness and can sit on the leaf hairs or leaf surface without much of the mixture actually contacting the leaf. Surfactants reduce angle and promote more absorption

Tips continued Costs – –Generally, non-ionic surfactants and crop oil concentrates are the least expensive – –Nitrogen surfactants, esterified crop oils, organosilicones (most expensive) What conditions follow an application? – –Max rainfastness: esterified seed oils, organo- silicones, nitrogen surfactants – –Not all surfactants have the same amount of rainfastness

What formulation is this? FLOWABLE DERMAL ABSORPTION Examples: Bravo 720 F fungicide Furadan 4 F insecticide

Question #2 What formulation is this? Powdered Hand Soap Wettable Powder Easily Inhaled Examples: Sevin 50 W insecticide Kerb 50 W herbicide Sniper 50 W insecticide

READ THE LABEL This will give you an idea of what type of adjuvant if any should be used.

Questions

What is this?

Union Carbide Pesticide Manufacturing Plant December 3 rd, ,000 initial dead 15,000 more within 10 years 500,000 suffer injuries water wells near the site show overall chemical contamination to be 500 times higher than the maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization. cancer, genetic defects (birth defects), and liver and kidney damage. Bhopal, India Disaster

Any Problems?

How does this relate to you We drink well water –50% of Montana Citizens drink well water –95% of those living in agricultural communities Restricted Use Applicators of Major Concern in Montana Ag. Areas –You are the greatest risk factor for your own health

Spill – What do we do? Stepped Concerns –Safety –Control –Containment –Reporting –Cleanup Have On Hand –Absorbent –Shovel –Bags –Emergency Contacts

How do we reduce risk? #1 – Mixing & Loading Locations #2 - Filling Tanks #3 – Read Label

Mixing/Loading Sites

Back Siphonage

Read Label

Proper Mixing and Storage

What factors are at play in groundwater contamination? #1 – Pesticide Factors -Persistence-Mobility-Rate #2 – Soil Factors -Texture/OM/Cracked Soil #3 – Site Conditions -Weather -Shallow Groundwater

RATE and Infiltration

Infiltration and Texture

Types of Soil Texture & Permeability

Adsorption to Organic Matter

Leaching Potential

Runoff Risk

Detected in Montana?

Picloram

What are variables are

Check your rates

Case Study – Tordon 1pt/A

Case Study – Tordon 2qt/A

Fish at risk as well!

Some chemicals are labeled for use on Riparian areas 2.4-D Aquatic RodeoBanvel Escort, Tellar KrenitePlateauRoundup

Don’t be complacent

Can happen to anyone in many situations

Bhopal RECAP Groundwater contamination has many affects varying on contaminant involved –Elderly, and children at most risk

Contact Information MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program