|
|
Christmas Tree Production
|
 |
|
|
Christmas Tree Production
|
|
Not everyone can apply all pesticides. To apply restricted use pesticides, applicators must have a private pesticide certification or be working under someone who has such a certification. Although these people working under another person's certification do not have a certification themselves, they still must be trained under the worker protection Standards. To apply pesticides to anyone's property for compensation, a commercial pesticide applicator's license is required.
For more information on who has to have a pesticide license, and how this license is obtained in North Carolina see: "Licensing, Certification and Recertification Guide for Pesticides Applicators in North Carolina." http://ipm.ncsu.edu/pesticidesafety/liccert2.htm
For more information on the Worker Protection Standard see the EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/worker.htm
The person most likely to be affected by pesticide application is the person applying it. As Paracelsus (1493-1541), the father of modern toxicology said, "The dose makes the poison." The person applying the pesticide is most likely to receive the highest dose.
On every pesticide label is a list of requirements for personal protective equipment or PPE. This may be something as simple as long sleeve shirts and long pants, or it may require gloves, chemical resistant footwear, respirators, eye protection, or other apparel designed to protect the applicator from adverse health effects from pesticide application.
The toxicity of a material can't always be judged by the PPE that is required for application. For instance, horticultural oil can be either petroleum based or vegetable based. These products are not toxic at all, but kill the insect pests by smothering them. However, a respirator may be required to be used when applying these products. The reason is that oil is a skin irritant. If spray droplets of oil are breathed in by the applicator, it would cause irritation to the lungs. Therefore, the PPE is required.
For more information of PPE see the University of Missouri publication, "Personal Protective Equipment for Working with Pesticides." http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengin/g01917.htm
Pesticides can be applied to private property up to the edge of that property. Unless specific restrictions are stated on an individual pesticide label, buffers are not required. However, it is illegal for pesticides to drift from the site of application to adjacent property. Pesticide drift is any airborne movement of pesticides away from an application site, including droplets, dusts, gases, volatized pesticides, or pesticide-contaminated soil particles. Drifting pesticides can be invisible and odorless, yet still be harmful to health. Therefore, although buffers are not required, some growers choose not to plant Christmas trees up to their property line. Others leave forest trees to grow up as a buffer between the field and homes. Or a grower may choose one pesticide to apply to the majority of the field and another that may not work quite as well, may be more expensive, or may be harder to apply but is less hazardous next to the property line.
For more information on drift see the EPA website:
Spray Drift of Pesticides
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm
If a person wants to make a complaint about possible potential drift, he or she can contact the Raleigh office or local North Carolina Department of Agricultural and Consumer Service pesticide inspector. For the name of the local inspector, call your local Cooperative Extension Service office. These offices can be found at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/counties/.
Pesticides will degrade with exposure to sunlight and rainfall. Therefore, if drift has occurred, it is important to have it investigated quickly.
For more information on the Enforcement Response Unit of the Pesticide Section of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services see http://www.ncagr.com/fooddrug/pesticid/Enforce.htm.
Prepared by Jill R. Sidebottom, PhD, Area Extenson Specialist, College of Natural Resources, NCSU
Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention of commercial products or services in this publication do not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in your county.
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: 828.684.3562 ~ Fax: 828.684.8715
Email: jill_sidebottom@ncsu.edu
Web Crafter: Anne S. Napier ~ Email: anne_napier@ncsu.edu
Updated October 30, 2006
