Pesticide Labels

1. Pesticide Labels Lynn Loughary Wyandotte County Horticulture Agent

2. Pesticide Labels • Introduction to Pesticides • Labels – what they contain & what they mean

3. What are Pesticides? • “Cide” means “to kill”. Technically, a pesticide is something used to kill pests. • A pesticide can also mean something that controls a pests’ activity or prevents them from causing damage.

4. Pesticide Groups • Fungicide – controls fungi (chlorothalonil) • Herbicide – controls weeds (glyphosate) • Insecticide – controls insects (malathion) • Miticide – controls mites (kelthane) • Nematicides – controls nematodes (oxamyl)

5. Pesticide Development • $100 Million to develop a new product • EPA evaluates pesticides thoroughly to ensure that they will meet federal safety standards to protect human health & the environment • Data requirements: Residue chemistry Environmental fate Degradation studies Metabolism studies Mobility studies Dissipation studies Accumulation studies

6. Pesticide Development • Hazard to Humans & Domestic Animal Studies: - Acute studies - Subchronic studies - Chronic studies - Teratogenicity & reproductive studies - Mutagenicity studies - Metabolism studies - Reentry protection - Pesticide spray drift evaluation • Hazard to Humans & Domestic Animal Studies: - Short-term studies - Long-term & field studies - Product performance

7. Pesticide RED • Re-Eligibility Decision (Re-registration every 15 years) of current pesticides • Food Quality Protection Act 1996 Dietary Exposure – chronic & acute Aggregate Exposure – residential uses drinking water food crops Common Modes of Toxicity Indocrine Disruption (hormonal effects)

8. Pesticide RED • Greatest impact on pesticides with: - common modes of action - multiple crop uses - multiple use sites - acutely toxic or carcinogenic - developmental effects - endocrine effects • Cancellation of product registrations or label mitigation

9. Pesticide Make-up • Active Ingredient: What actually kills or repels the pest. • Inert Ingredients Wetting agents (spreaders) Stickers Acidifiers and Buffers; Some pesticides break down quickly under high pH. Sevin has a half-life of 4 weeks at a pH of 7 but only 1 day at a pH of 9 Captan: pH 7 = half-life of 3 hours, pH 8 = 10 min Diluents (i.e. water)

10. Pesticide Formulations • Liquids Emulsifiable Concentrates (E or EC) Solutions (S) Flowables (F or L) • Dry Dusts (D) Granules (G) Wettable Powders (WP or W) Soluble Powders (SP) Water Dispersible Granules or Dry Flowables (WDG or DF)

11. Pesticide Labels • Identification of product • Safety • Use

12. Pesticide Label- Identification • Brand, Trade or Product Name • Common Name • Chemical Name • Formulation (may not be obvious) • Ingredient Statement

13. Pesticide Label Trade Name

14. Pesticide Label Common Name

15. Pesticide Label Chemical Name

16. Pesticide Label Ingredient Statement

17. Pesticide Labels • Signal Words • First Aid • Precautionary Statements - Hazards to Humans & Domestic Animals - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - User Safety Recommendations - Environmental Hazards - Physical or Chemical Hazards • Directions for Use - Agricultural & Non-Agircultural Use Precautions (reentry)

18. Pesticide Labels • Signal Word Caution LD50 = 500-5,000 mg/kg Warning LD50 = 50-500 mg/kg Danger LD50 < 50 mg/kg • Signal word signifies the relative toxicity of the product. • LD50 = lethal dose to kill 50% of test animals The lower the LD50 the more toxic the product

19. Signal Word - Caution • Product slightly toxic • An ounce to more than a pint of undiluted product taken by mouth could kill the average adult • Any product which is slightly toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation or causes slight eye and skin irritation will be labeled CAUTION • Examples include Brush-B-Gon, Round-up, Fungi-Fighter, Sevin

20. Signal Word - Warning • Product moderately toxic • A teaspoon to a tablespoon taken by mouth could kill the average adult • Any product which is moderately toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation or causes moderate eye and skin irritation will be labeled WARNING • Examples include Dimension, Orthene, Daconil

21. Signal Word - Danger • Product highly toxic • A taste to a teaspoon taken by mouth could kill the average adult • Any product which is highly toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation will be labeled DANGER and will also carry the word POISON printed in red and the skull and crossbones symbol • Products that only cause severe eye and skin burning will be labeled DANGER but not have the word POISON printed in red or skull and crossbones

22. First Aid • First-aid treatments recommended Examples: If on skin or clothing take off contaminated clothing rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice.

23. Precautionary Statements • Route of Entry (i.e. mouth, skin, lungs) Example: Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin Specific Action Statements Example: Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing. Avoid breathing mists or vapors. Avoid contamination of food • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) long sleeved shirt & long pants shoes plus socks waterproof gloves Additional gear may be specified (i.e. goggles)

24. Precautionary Statements • User Safety Recommendations Example: wash hands before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or using the toilet • Environmental Hazards Example: This pesticide is toxic to mammals, birds, fish and aquatic invertibrates.Do not apply directly to water, or to where surface water is present or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark.

25. Directions for Use • Agricultural & Non-Agricultural Use Requirements REI – restricted entry interval PPE for early entry to treated sites • Storage & Disposal

26. General Information • General Use Precautions – “Do Not’s” • Mixing Instructions • Application Directions crops pests controlled rates days to harvest if edible crop

27. Warranty • Warranty Disclaimer • Inherent Risks of Use • Limitation of Remedies

28. Pesticide Labels • Always read and follow label directions! • Products should be used only in accordance with recommendations on the label or supplemental labels.