Presenter Abstracts for the 2006 Annual Workshop
Pesticide Program Update, Jay Ellenberger
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs has a very important responsibility in protecting public health and the environment from adverse risks of pesticides and promoting safer pest control. By using cutting edge science methods for risk assessment and management, using data from laboratory studies as well as field surveys such as poison control centers, and using regulatory and non-regulatory approaches, EPA is ensuring these responsibilities are met. EPA has recently completed a 10-year reassessment of all crop-use pesticides resulting in a phase-out or new restrictions for many uses; pesticides used in the U.S. meet the highest health and safety standards. Additionally, this year EPA has developed or has under development for next year new regulations and programs, including pesticide containment and containers, WPS, CPAP, and spray drift reduction, to advance pesticide safety in the field and through product labeling. These and other actions will affect pesticide applicators, pesticide safety educators, and ultimately strengthen the protection of the public and the environment.
Hands-on Label Comprehension, Emelie Swackhamer
Get your audience involved when teaching label comprehension! Pesticide Peril is a game show-style teaching tool that is available in two formats. The "unplugged" format uses a simple display board, does not need electricity or projectors, and is useful for classes in farm buildings or in light greenhouses. A PowerPoint format is also available, which is especially useful for larger audiences. Use our questions or substitute your own to teach virtually any topic. In the first year Emelie used this game, she used the unplugged version to teach core credits at 24 events, reaching 1,099 people. Other educators also borrowed it to present a fun session for their audiences with minimal preparation time. Participants have identified it as a very effective teaching tool and have commented "I've been coming to meetings for 30 years, and this was the best core credit I ever attended".
Poison Control Centers and Pesticide Statistics
The United States has 61 Poison Centers that provide 24/7 emergency poison information to every American. Dialing 1-800-222-1222 from anywhere in the U.S. or its territories will automatically forward your emergency call to the nearest regional Poison Center. The mission of Poison Centers is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with both accidental and intentional poisoning exposures. Centers such as the Pittsburgh Poison Center have highly trained, expert medical professional staffs that use their expertise and the most contemporary references and information to assist people who have been poisoned. Everyone is at potential risk of being poisoned; that includes children, adults, and even pets. Poison Centers can also assist callers who need assistance with adverse drug reactions. The most common call to U.S. Poison Centers involves exposures to pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Pesticide exposures are the ninth most common category of substances that are involved in poisonings. In Pennsylvania, exposure to an insecticide, such as an organophosphate, is the most common pesticide-related call managed by the Pittsburgh Poison Center staff. Over 50% of the pesticide exposures occur during the summer months of June-September and approximately 30% of those exposures involve children. Nearly 60% of the exposure victims inhaled the pesticide. About 26% of the exposures were treated in a hospital, but only 3.5% of the victims required hospitalization and no pesticide-related fatalities was reported in 2005.
Drift Minimization, Dr. Andrew Landers
Spray drift is an important and costly problem facing farmers and growers. Drift results in damage to susceptible off-target crops, environmental contamination to watercourses, and an unintentionally reduced rate of application to the target crop, thus reducing the effectiveness of the pesticide. Pesticide drift also affects neighboring properties, often leading to public outcry and conflict. During this session I will demonstrate simple methods of observing drift using water sensitive cards and tracers, and also show how various nozzles can reduce drift. Other topics will include hooded booms, nozzle orientation, and adjustment of fan speed.
Nozzle Selection, Dr. Andrew Landers
Correct nozzle selection is one of the most important yet inexpensive aspects of pesticide application. A nozzle’s droplet spectrum determines deposition and drift. Conventional nozzles, when fitted to a sprayer, produce droplets in the range of 10 – 450 microns. Penetration into the crop canopy, deposition and retention on the target leaves or fruit, and off-target drift can be major challenges.
Increasing the Volume Median Diameter (VMD) will certainly reduce drift, but too large a droplet will bounce off the leaves to the ground, thus causing pollution, wasting money, and resulting in less product on the target. Drift has been a major concern for some years, off target application wastes money, reduces deposition on the target plant, pollutes water sourses, and may cause nausea to other people.
This session at the workshop will demonstrate how droplets are formed, how they behave under various conditions such as pressure, flow rate, and wind. Participants will learn how different nozzles create different size droplets and how the operator can select the correct nozzle for the target, based upon nozzle output and spray quality classification.
Pesticide Formulation, Patricia Hipkins
This session begins with a discussion of why, when, and how pesticide safety educators need to use a "pesticide" in programs – and what readily-available, (relatively) non-toxic household products can substitute for actual formulated pesticides. This is followed by an activity that reinforces the properties of various pesticide formulations. The session concludes with an activity that uses substitute "pesticides" to teach and demonstrate incompatibility. (If/as time permits, the group will discuss active learning – what is and what is not – and the pros, cons, and logistics of conducing "hands-on" training sessions.)
Toxicity & Exposure Reduction, Dr. Kerry Hoffman-Richards
Fluorescent markers are used to explore the role of personal protective equipment in preventing pesticide exposure. Participants will perform several types of "pesticide" applications and then be analyzed for exposure. Kerry supplies each person with a container of the fluorescent marker for future training purposes.
Calibration Demonstration, Wayne Buhler
An overview of the principles and methods of equipment calibration will be given. This will be followed by participation in a "get-your-hands-wet" calibration exercise involving the calibration of liquid and granular application equipment. Educational resources on diluting pesticides, selecting nozzle tips, and measuring treatment areas will be provided.