|
 |
|
Formulation
Selection Considerations
The importance of formulation type is generally overlooked. The decision
to use a formulation for a given application should include an analysis
of the following factors:
- Applicator safety. Different formulations present various degrees
of hazard to the applicator. Some products are easily inhaled, while
others readily penetrate skin, or cause injury when splashed in the
eyes.
- Environmental concerns. Special precautions need to be taken with
formulations that are prone to drift in air or move off-target into
water. Wildlife can also be affected to varying degrees by different
formulations. Birds may be attracted by granules, and fish or aquatic
invertebrates can prove especially sensitive to specific pesticide formulations
such as 2,4-D esters.
- Pest biology. The growth habits and survival strategies of a pest
will often determine what formulation provides optimum contact between
the active ingredient and the pest.
- Available application equipment. Some pesticide formulations require
specialized application equipment. This includes safety equipment, spill
control equipment and, in special cases, containment structures.
- Surfaces to be protected. Applicators should be aware that certain
formulations can stain fabrics, discolor linoleum, dissolve plastic,
or burn foliage.
- Cost. Product prices may vary substantially, based on the active ingredients
present and the complexity of delivering active ingredients in specific
formulations.
Individuals such as commercial pest control technicians or farm workers
who may not be involved in the selection process but are responsible for
the actual application should also be made aware of the type of formulation
they are using, its dangers and of the safety measures needed. This choice
of formulation type can have an impact on human health and the environment.
Inattention to the type of formulation being used could mean the difference
between a routine application and one that is the source of environmental
contamination - or worse, a serious human exposure.
 Back
to Agricultural Pesticide Use Menu
|
