Sprayers, fungicides

The intent of this article is to provide an overview of methodology and materials for sampling airborne pesticide spray and spray collection on surfaces by sedimentation deposition and impaction after release from field sprayers. The term pesticide will be used as a general term to represent chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and related products. 

Curalan DF is a fungicide produced by BASF Corp. for the purpose of treating such diseases as brown patch and fusarium patch on turf. Curalan DF was applied to turf in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania at a rate of 5.6 lb of active ingredient in 80 gallons of finished spray solution per acre using a tractor-mounted boom sprayer. Four applications were made 14 days apart. These conditions were selected to reflect the maximum level of dislodgeable residue when the product is typically used in agricultural practice. 

Maneb and mancozeb are widely used fungicides in the agriculture and forestry industries. Exposure to these compounds can be via ingestion, inhalation, or dermal pathways, especially in sprayers who do not use protective measures. Much of the information about effects in humans from exposure to these pesticides comes from reports of agricultural workers or home use. Often exposure was likely to involve both inhalation and oral routes, or inhalation and dermal routes, and in some cases, all three routes may have contributed to total exposure. Thus, when discussed in this text, levels of exposure to these pesticides is expressed as mg/kg/day to reflect total exposure per estimated body weight. 

Maneb and mancozeb. Acute exposure to maneb at doses of 1.1 mg/kg/day (de Carvalho et al. 1989) and 229 mg/kg/day (Koizumi et al. 1979) were associated with metabolic acidosis in male fungicide sprayers. 

Maneb or mancozeb. Studies show that maneb and mancozeb are metabolized to several compounds including ethylenethiourea (ETU), ethylene urea, and ethylenediamine (Jordan and Neal 1979 Lyman 1971) in plants and animals. ETU has been identified in the urine of occupationally-exposed sprayers of maneb and mancozeb (Kurttio and Savoleinen 1990 Kurttio et al. 1990). No studies were located concerning the metabolism of manganese originating from these fungicides in either humans or animals. 

Steenland K, Cedillo L, Tucker J, et al. 1997. Thyroid hormones and cytogenetic outcomes in backpack sprayers using ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) (EBDC) fungicides in Mexico. Environ Health Perspect 105 1126-1130. 

Pesticides are substances that repel, kill or otherwise control unwanted animals or plants. Examples include insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. The formulation of pesticides is significant in terms of product stability and product performance. The current trend in crop protection is towards products that are more potent, safer to user, having less impact on the environment, more convenient to use and improved efficiency of the apphed product [85]. In the case of sprayed products, colloid and interface science impacts all aspects of apphcation. First, spray droplets impact the leaf surface, creating a fohar deposit from which the pesticide moves into the leaf or contacts the pest (see Figure 13.7) [85]. The spray pattern is influenced by the applicator nozzle hydrodynamics, the physical properties of the spray fluid and the movement of sprayer vehicle. 

KOCIDE 20/20 brings together the broad fungicidal properties of copper hydroxide plus nutritional levels of zinc. KOCIDE 20/20 is uniquely formulated to allow application by aerial means as well as concentrate and dilute ground sprayer. The broad spectrum of fungus and bacterial diseases makes KOCIDE 20/20 ideal for use on fruit and nut crops. 

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