Pesticide Applicator Core Training ManualCertification, Recertification and Registered TechnicianTraining

Part ARequired reading for: Private pesticide applicators

Commercial pesticide applicators

Registered technicians

Part A and Part BRequired reading for: Private pesticide applicators

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Pesticide ApplicatorCore Training ManualCertification, Recertification andRegistered Technician Training

Part ARequired reading for: Private pesticide applicators

Commercial pesticide applicators

Registered technicians

Part A and Part BRequired reading for: Private pesticide applicators

Julie Stachecki Johanningsmeier, editor2002 revisions by Carolyn J. Randall

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ContributorsThis manual, Pesticide Applicator Core Training

Manual: Certification, Recertification and RegisteredTechnician Training, Parts A and B was produced byMichigan State University, Pesticide Education Programin conjunction with the Michigan Department ofAgriculture with Dr. Larry Olsen providing overall sup-port and leadership. The following team members gen-erously gave their time and contributed their expertiseby reviewing various segments of this manual. Theirinput guided the creation and direction of this trainingmaterial. We would like to give them distinct recognitionand thanks for their commitment to assisting thePesticide Education Program staff with this project.

Manuscript Reviewers:Jan Castanza, Urban Pest Management, DowElanco,Bowling Green, OH Elaine Chittenden, collections manager, GroundsMaintenance, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIGina Davis, pesticide certification manager, MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, Lansing, MITim Doppel, Atwood LawnCare, Inc. Sterling Heights, MIDoug Foytek, Aquatrol, Inc., Clarkston, MILynnae Jess, extension associate, Pesticide EducationProgram, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIDan Rajzer, Cass county agriculture and natural resourceagent, Michigan State University Extension, Cassopolis,MIBob Mansfield, Citizens Elevator, Vermontville, MI George McManus III, Benton Harbor, MICarol Osborne, East Michigan Environmental ActionCouncil, Grosse Pointe, MIGreg Patchan, Oakland county agriculture and naturalresource agent, Michigan State University Extension,Pontiac, MINatalie Rector, Calhoun county agriculture and naturalresource agent, Michigan State University Extension,Marshall, MIPaul Wylie, Allegan county agriculture and naturalresource agent, Michigan State University Extension,Allegan, MI

Chapter Reviewers:Bradley L. Aaron, academic specialist, EnvironmentalToxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MISteve Allen, Countrymark Cooperative, Inc., Indianapolis,INNed Birkey, Monroe county agriculture and naturalresources agent, Michigan State University Extension,Monroe, MIBen Darling, environmental engineer, site response man-ager, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Lansing, MIMike Kamrin, professor, Environmental Toxicology,Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIDale Mutch, district crop integrated pest managementagent, Michigan State University Extension, HickoryCorners, MISandy Perry, extension associate, Pesticide EducationProgram, Michigan State University Extension, EastLansing, MIJeffrey Rohlena, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SDRobin Rosenbaum, pesticide registration manager,Michigan Department of Agriculture, Lansing, MI Brian Rowe, pesticide enforcement coordinator, MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, Lansing, MIMark Swartz, groundwater manager, MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, Lansing, MIBob Wilkinson, agricultural engineer, AgriculturalEngineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

AcknowledgementsMaterials from several sources were used to compile

this information with significant input from the nationalcore training manuals Applying Pesticides Correctly:A Guide for Commercial and Private PesticideApplicators, and Applying Pesticides Correctly:Private Applicator Supplement as well as PestManagement Principles for the Private Applicator byUniversity of Wisconsin.

We would like to express our thanks to the followingpeople for assisting in the production of this manual:Larry G. Olsen, pesticide education coordinator,Michigan State University Extension; Leslie Johnson,MSU Extension Outreach Communications; DaveRoberts, MSU Department of Botany and PlantPathology; Gary Van Ee, MSU Department of Agri-cultural Engineering; Karen Renner, MSU Crop and SoilScience Department; Phil Korson, Cherry MarketingInstitute; Tom Weise, Michigan Department of NaturalResources; Gary Thornton and Jim Bardenhagen,Michigan State University Extension; and Ken Dettmer,Graphicom, East Lansing, MI.

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Table of Contents

Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2How to use this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Part A: Commercial and private applicators and registered technicians

Chapter 1 Principles of Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Pest Management Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Integrated Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Techniques Used in Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Pest Control Failures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter 2 Laws and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Federal Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Michigan Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 3 Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Pesticide Formulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Compatibility of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Chapter 4 Pesticide Labeling and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44EPA Approval of Pesticide Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Parts of Pesticide Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Three Methods of Rating Hazardous Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Chapter 5 Pesticides in the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Sources of Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Pesticide Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Processes Affecting Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Surface Water Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Groundwater Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Factors Affecting Surface and Groundwater Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Pesticide Effects on Nontarget Plants and Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Harmful Effects on Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Chapter 6 Pesticides and Human Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Pesticide Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Exposure: How Pesticides Enter the Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Acute Toxicity and Signal Words