MASSACHUSETTS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
CORE questions and answers 2024
Danger-Poison - The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as highly
toxic based on their LD50 and/or LC50 values. The products might also be corrosive or
highly irritating to skin and eyes.
Days to Harvest - Same as Preharvestal Interval
Days to slaughter - Same as Slaughterer intervals
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
degredation - 1. The process by which a chemical is broken down into simpler
compounds by the action of microorganisms, water, air, sunlight, and other agents. 2.
The physical breakdown of personal protective equipment material caused by contact
with a pesticide to which the material is not resistant
Delayed effects - Illness or injuries that generally occur between 24 hours and several
days after exposure to pesticides; those follow delayed exposure are chronic effects
Deposit - The presence of a pesticide on a treated surface after application
Dermal - Pertaining to the skin
Dermal Toxicity - The ability of a pesticide to cause injury or poisoning when absorbed
through the skin
Dermatitis - The inflammation, itching, irritation, and occurrence of rash after exposure
to a chemical
Desiccant - 1. A pesticide that promotes loss of moisture from leaves and other parts of
the plant. 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 cause
, Dicot - A herbaceous plant which has two cotyledons (seed leaves) upon germination
Dilutent - See carrier
Direct Spray Application - An application that targets the precise location of pests rather
than a broader area, such as a basal application to woody plants or a crack-and-crevice
treatment in a building
Disinfectant - 1. A chemical or other agent that kills or inactivates disease-producing
microorganisms in animals, seeds, and other plant parts 2. A chemical used to clean or
surface sterilize inanimate objects
Dispersing Agent - An adjuvant that facilitates the mixing and suspension of a pesticide
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 granules
to flow out by gravity feed
Dry Flowable - See water dispersible granule
Dust - 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
Economic Injury Level - The pest population density that causes losses equal to the
cost of control
Economic Threshold - The pest population density at which control measures are
needed to prevent the pest from causing economic injury
Emulsifiable Concentration - A pesticide Formulation produced by mixing an active
ingredient and an emulsifying agent in a petroleum solvent. When added to water, a
milky emulsion is usually formed
Emulsifying agent - A chemical that aids in the suspension of one liquid in another that
normally would not mix well together
CORE questions and answers 2024
Danger-Poison - The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as highly
toxic based on their LD50 and/or LC50 values. The products might also be corrosive or
highly irritating to skin and eyes.
Days to Harvest - Same as Preharvestal Interval
Days to slaughter - Same as Slaughterer intervals
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
degredation - 1. The process by which a chemical is broken down into simpler
compounds by the action of microorganisms, water, air, sunlight, and other agents. 2.
The physical breakdown of personal protective equipment material caused by contact
with a pesticide to which the material is not resistant
Delayed effects - Illness or injuries that generally occur between 24 hours and several
days after exposure to pesticides; those follow delayed exposure are chronic effects
Deposit - The presence of a pesticide on a treated surface after application
Dermal - Pertaining to the skin
Dermal Toxicity - The ability of a pesticide to cause injury or poisoning when absorbed
through the skin
Dermatitis - The inflammation, itching, irritation, and occurrence of rash after exposure
to a chemical
Desiccant - 1. A pesticide that promotes loss of moisture from leaves and other parts of
the plant. 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 cause
, Dicot - A herbaceous plant which has two cotyledons (seed leaves) upon germination
Dilutent - See carrier
Direct Spray Application - An application that targets the precise location of pests rather
than a broader area, such as a basal application to woody plants or a crack-and-crevice
treatment in a building
Disinfectant - 1. A chemical or other agent that kills or inactivates disease-producing
microorganisms in animals, seeds, and other plant parts 2. A chemical used to clean or
surface sterilize inanimate objects
Dispersing Agent - An adjuvant that facilitates the mixing and suspension of a pesticide
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 granules
to flow out by gravity feed
Dry Flowable - See water dispersible granule
Dust - 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
Economic Injury Level - The pest population density that causes losses equal to the
cost of control
Economic Threshold - The pest population density at which control measures are
needed to prevent the pest from causing economic injury
Emulsifiable Concentration - A pesticide Formulation produced by mixing an active
ingredient and an emulsifying agent in a petroleum solvent. When added to water, a
milky emulsion is usually formed
Emulsifying agent - A chemical that aids in the suspension of one liquid in another that
normally would not mix well together
