Massachusetts Pesticide License Exam

absorption

the movement of a chemical into plants, animals (including humans), microorganisms or soil

Acaricide

a pesticide used to control mites and ticks. a Miticide is a type of acaricide

Acidic

having a ph less than 7

Acidifiers = Buffers

adjuvants used to retard chemical degradation of pesticides in the spray tank by lowering the pH of alkaline water used as a diluent

Action Threshold

a predetermined level of pest infestation or damage at which some type of pest management action must be taken

Activated Charcoal

A finely ground charcoal that adsorbs chemicals.

Active Ingredient (AI)

The chemical or chemicals in a product responsible for pesticidal activity.

Acute effect

a symptom, illness, or injury that occurs shortly after the exposure to a pesticide

Acute Exposure

An exposure to a single dose of pesticide

Acute Rodenticide

a pesticide that is capable of killing a rodent after a single feeding

Acute Toxicity

The ability of a pesticide to cause illness after a single exposure. LD50 and LC50 are common indicators of the degree of acute toxicity

Adjuvant (Additive)

a substance added to a pesticide to improve its effectiveness or safety

Adsorption

the process whereby chemicals are bound to a surface by physical or chemical attraction

Adulterated Pesticide

A pesticide that does not conform to the specified standard or quality as documented on its label or labeling

Aerosol

a liquid formulation that produces a mist or fod when applied from a container in which it is held under pressure or from a fod-generating machine

Agitation

The process of stirring or mixing the contents of a spray tank

Air-blast sprayer

A type of pesticide application equipment that uses a large volume of air moving at high speed to break up and disperse spray droplets from the nozzles

Algae

relatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and contain chlorophyll

Algaecide (algicide)

a pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae

Alkaline

having a pH greater than 7, als

Allergic Effects

a hypersensitivity to a specific substance which is not due to the substance's toxicity

annual

a plant that completes its life cycle in one year

antidote

a practical treatment used to counteract the effects of pesticide poisoning

Antifouling Paint

a paint containing a pesticide (ex: Copper) that prevents aquatic organisms from attaching to underwater structures (such as boat hulls, crab pots and water intake pipes)

Antisiphoning Device

a mechanism that prevents back flow of a pesticide mix from the spray tank into a water source

application rate

the amount of pesticide applied to a known area (such as an acre or 1,000 square feet ) volume or animal

Aquifer

a geological formation (ex: sand, gravel, bed rock), from which groundwater can be drawn

Arachnid

a wingless arthropod with two body regions and four pairs of jointed legs (spiders, ticks, mites)

Arthropod

An invertebrate animal characterized by jointed body and limbs usually a hard body covering that is molted at intervals. Insects, arachnids, millipedes and centipedes are arthropods

Atropine (Atropine Sulfate)

An antidote used to treat organophosphate and carbamate poisoning.

attractant

a substance or device to lure insects or other pests to a trap or poison bait

avicide

a pesticide used to kill or repel birds

Back-siphoning

the movement of a pesticide mixture from a spray tank through the filling hose into the water source

Bacteria

a single-celled organisms; some causes diseases in plants and animals

Bactericide

a pesticide used to control bacteria

bait

1. food or other substance used to attract a pest to a pesticide or a trap. 2. a ready-to-use pesticide formulation that contains an active ingredient mixed with food or another attractive substance

band application

an application of a pesticide or other material in or besides a crop row rather than over an entire field

basal application

an application to plant stems or trunks at or just above the ground line

beneficial insect

an insect that is useful to us ex: pollinators, predators of pests

Biennial

a plant that completes its life cycle in two years

Bioaccumulation

the process by which organisms accumulate or store chemicals in their tissues

biological control

the control of pests using predators, parasites and disease-causing organisms

Biomagnification

the process whereby some organisms accumulate chemical residues in higher concentration than those found in the organisms they consume

Biopesticide

a pesticide derived from naturally occurring materials

Boom

a pipe that is attached to a sprayer and that has nozzles spaced along its length

brand name

the unique name under which a registered pesticide product is sold

broadcast application

the uniform application of a pesticide over an entire field or area

broadleaves

herbaceous plants with broad, rounded or flattened leaves with netted veins and two cotyledons (seed leaves). Examples include dandelions, lambdsquarters and morning glory

broad0spectrum pesticide

a pesticide that is effective against a wide range of pests; also called non-selective pesticide

bulk pesticide

pesticide held in containers that hold more than 55 gallons of liquid or 100 pounds of dry material

calibration

the measurement and adjustment of the delivery rate of application equipment so as to apply the correct amount of material uniformly to the target area

carbamates

a group of cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides used to control insects, mites and nematodes

Carcinogen

a substance or agent able to produce malignant tumors (caner)

carrier

1. an inert liquid, solid or gas added to an active ingredient to make a pesticide formulation. 2. the material, usually water or oil, used to dilute the formulated product for application

caution

the signal worse associated with pesticide products classified as slightly toxic; these pesticides have an oral LD50 greater than 500 mg/kg and a dermal LD50 greater than 2,000 mg/kg

certified applicator

a person qualified to purchase and to apply or supervise the application of restricted-use pesticides

chemical degradation

the breakdown of pesticides by reaction with other chemicals, such as water or oil

chemical incompatibility

the condition in which the mixing two or more presiticdes together in a spray tank alters the activity of one or more of them

chemiccal name

the technical name of an active ingredient, derived from its chemical structure

chemigation

he application of pesticides to a target site in irrigation water. also known as injector systems when used in greenhouses

cholinesterase

an enzyme that regulates nerve impulses in humans and many other animals

chronic effects

harmful effects that arise following chronic exposure to pesticides

chronic exposure

exposure to a pesticide (or a group of related pesticides) over a long period of time

chronic toxicity

the ability of small amounts of pesticides from repeated, prolonged exposure to cause harm

commercial applicator

according to the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act (FIFRA), a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of pesticides for purposes other than those covered under a private applicator certificaiton each state may have its own legal definition of "Commercial applicator"

common name

a unique, simplified names given to an active ingredient by a recognized committee

compatibility agent

an adjuvant used to enhance the mixing of two or more pesticide products

compatible

said of two or more pesticides products that can be mixed together uniformly and without adversely affecting the effectiveness or properties of any of the products

concentrate

undiluted pesticide product

concentration

the amount of active ingredient in a givevn volume or weight of formulated product

contact effects

injury at the point at which pesticide exposure occurs (ex: skin irritation)

contact pesticide

any pesticide that controls pest organisms upon contact

containment pad

an impermeable pad used for mixing and loading pesticides and cleaning equipment that is designated to catch spills, leaks, overflows and wash water fro reuse or disposal

corrosive posion

a substance containing a strong acid or base that will severely burn the skin, mouth, stomach or respiratory tract

cotyledon

a seed leaf that appears shortly after a seed germinates

crack-and-crevice application

the application of small amounts of pesticide into cracks and crevices in buildings such as along baseboards and in cabinets

cross contamination

when one pesticide unintentionally becomes mixed with another

cross resistance

the ability of a pest population that is resistant to one pesticide to be resistant to other pesticides that have a similar mode of action

danger

the signal word associated with pesticide products classified as highly toxic solely because they are corrosive or highly irritating to skin and eyes

danger-poison

the signal word associated with pesticide products classified as highly toxic based on their LD50 and LC50 values. the products might also be corrosive or highly irritating to skin and eyes

decontaminate

to remove or degrade a chemical residue from the skin or a surface

defoaming agent

an adjuvant used to reduce the foaming of a spray mixture due to agitation

defoliant

a chemical that initiates the premature drop of leaves, often as an aid in harvesting a crop

degradtaion

1. the process by which a chemical compound is broken down to a simpler compounds by action of microorganisms, water, air, sunlight or other agents 2. the physical breakdown of personal protective equipment material caused by contact with a pestiide to which the material is not resistant

delayed effects

illnesses or injuries that generally occur between 24 hours and several days after exposure to pesticides

deposit

the presence of a pesticide on a treated surface after application

dermal

pertainin to the skin

dermal toxicity

the ability ofa pesticide to cause injury or posioning when absorbed through the skin

dermatitis

the inflammation, itching, irritaiton or occurrence of a rash after exposure to a chemical

desiccant

1. a pesticide that promotes loss of moisture from leaves or other plant parts 2. a pesticide that removes water from arthropods or destroys the waxy covering that protects them from water loss

diagnosis

the positive identification of a problem and its caus

dicot

a herbaceous plant which has two cotyledons(seed leaves) upon germination

directed-spray application

an application that targets the precise location of pests rather than a broader area, such as basal application to woody plants or crack and crevice treatment in buildings

disinfectant

1. a chemical or other agent that kills or inactivates disease=producing microorganisms in animals, seeds or other plants 2. a chemical used to clean or surface-sterilize inanimate objects

dispersing agent

an adjuvant that facilitates the mixing and suspension of a pesticide formulation in water

dose, dosage

1. the quantity of pesticide applied to a given site or target 2. the amount of pesticide to which a person or animal is exposed

drift

the airborne movement of a pesticide spray, dust, particle or vapor beyond the target area

drift control additive

an adjuvant added to a spray mixture to reduce drift

drop spreader

A common type of granular application equipment that has an adjustable sliding gate that opens holes in the bottom of the hopper, allowing the granules to flow out by gravity feed

dust (D)

a finely ground, dry pesticide formulation containing a small amount of active ingredient and a large amount of inert carrier such as clay or talc