Exposure to Airborne Pesticide Drift from Agricultural Applications

Pesticide usage is an essential part of modern agriculture but has a significant side effect of undesired exposure to toxic chemicals. Off-target losses include runoff, leaching, and atmospheric transport of the applied spray (i.e., pesticide drift). Atmospheric pesticide drift often contains droplets that will deposit in the field surroundings (sedimentary spray drift) as well as gaseous and aerosolized pesticides that can be transported to much longer distances (airborne drift).

Various practices have been implemented to mitigate this phenomenon, addressing both solution formulation and application methodologies. One approach involves the addition of chemical adjuvants to the pesticide solution. This addition is known to enhance the solution’s viscosity, resulting in larger droplets that are less prone to drift when sprayed. Our study on the effects of a commercially available polymeric adjuvant on the drift of airborne pesticides, both during application and afterwards, indicates that its impact is more complex than initially assumed.

Pesticide application via drones also appears to be a promising approach for a more sustainable weed management strategy, with the potential for more precise application. While agricultural drones are becoming increasingly popular for applying fertilizers and pesticides, scientific understanding of their full potential is still developing. In this seminar, I will also discuss recent measurements of airborne-drift during application by commercial drones under various conditions.