MDARD COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM
SCRIPT 2025 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of G - ✔✔adv
-RTU, no mixing
-drift hazard low
-low application hazard
-simple application
-may break down more slowly
disadv
-application equip needs calibration often (uneven particle size)
-uniform application difficult
-granules do not stick to foliage/uneven surfaces
-may need moisture to release AI
-may be hazardous to non-target species
-bulky
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of W or WP - ✔✔adv
-easy to transport, handle, store
-less likely than ECs and petroleum-based formulations to harm treated surfaces
-not phytotoxic
-less absorptive
disadv
-not easy to measure, must be weighed
-not easy to mix
-inhalation hazard when mixing
-needs constant agitation when in suspension
-abrasive
-clogs
-residues visible on treated surfaces
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of B - ✔✔adv
-RTU
-attracts pest, dont need to cover huge area
-controls mobile pests
disadv
-risk to children and pets
-may kill non-target wildlife
-requires careful placement/inspection
-dead vertebrate pests may cause odor problem
-must be removed when stops working
-may not always work if pest has other food sources
,✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of fumigants - ✔✔adv
-toxic to wide range of pests
-can penetrate cracks, crevices, etc
-single treatment will kill most pests
disadv
-target site must be enclosed to prevent gas from escaping
-nonspecific and highly toxic
-high inhalation risk
-require lots of PPE
-may require special application equipment
-some temp requirments
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of M - ✔✔adv
-coatings help protect applicator
-easy to handle, transport, store
-timed release of AI prolongs effectiveness
-reduced volatility
-reduced odor
-less likely to stain
-reduced phytotoxicity
disadv
-constant agitation may be required
-risk of harming bees
-long restricted-entry or preharvest intervals
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of WSP or WSB - ✔✔adv
-accurate, premeasured doses
-increased handling safety
-lower risk spills
disadv
-packaged size may not match volume of equipment you have
-must be kept dry
✔✔List some types of adjuvants - ✔✔-antifoaming
-Surfactants (wetting agents, spreaders)
-extenders
-stickers
-plant penetrators
-compatibility agents
-buffers or pH modifiers
-drift retardants
-defoaming agents
-thickeners
, ✔✔Define surfactant - ✔✔an inert ingredient that enhances the dispersing, spreading,
and wetting properties of spray droplets, allow the pesticide to spread evenly over the
surface of a leaf
✔✔The capacity of a pesticide to cause short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) injury
is referred to as its ____________ - ✔✔toxicity
✔✔Which statement about harmful effects of pesticides is false?
a) the most common form of pesticide injury is by inhalation
b) asthma-like symptoms may be caused by allergies to pesticides
c) many herbicides and fungicides cause dermatitis (skin reaction) - ✔✔a) the most
common form of pesticide injury is by inhalation
✔✔Which signal word is associated with very low oral LD50 values? - ✔✔DANGER-
POISON
✔✔Which statements about pesticide toxicity is true?
a) a pesticide with an oral LD50 of 5mg/kg is more toxic than a pesticide with an LD50
of 250mg/kg
b) Manufacturers are not required to include chronic toxicity warning statements on
product labels
c) the signal word on the product label indicates how likely the product is to cause both
acute and chronic toxic effects - ✔✔a) a pesticide with an oral LD50 of 5mg/kg is more
toxic than a pesticide with an LD50 of 250mg/kg
✔✔For which class(es) of pesticides might cholinesterase monitoring be appropriate?
a) Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides
b) pyrethoids
c) phenoxy herbicides, such as 2,4-D - ✔✔a) Organophosphate and carbamate
insecticides
✔✔Which statement about what happens to pesticides inside the body is true?
a) most pesticides used today are stored in our body fat
b) the kidneys filter pesticides from the blood into the urine
c) most chemical breakdown of toxic substances takes place wherever the pesticide is
first absorbed - ✔✔b) the kidneys filter pesticides from the blood into the urine
✔✔Which statement about pesticide exposure routes is true?
SCRIPT 2025 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of G - ✔✔adv
-RTU, no mixing
-drift hazard low
-low application hazard
-simple application
-may break down more slowly
disadv
-application equip needs calibration often (uneven particle size)
-uniform application difficult
-granules do not stick to foliage/uneven surfaces
-may need moisture to release AI
-may be hazardous to non-target species
-bulky
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of W or WP - ✔✔adv
-easy to transport, handle, store
-less likely than ECs and petroleum-based formulations to harm treated surfaces
-not phytotoxic
-less absorptive
disadv
-not easy to measure, must be weighed
-not easy to mix
-inhalation hazard when mixing
-needs constant agitation when in suspension
-abrasive
-clogs
-residues visible on treated surfaces
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of B - ✔✔adv
-RTU
-attracts pest, dont need to cover huge area
-controls mobile pests
disadv
-risk to children and pets
-may kill non-target wildlife
-requires careful placement/inspection
-dead vertebrate pests may cause odor problem
-must be removed when stops working
-may not always work if pest has other food sources
,✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of fumigants - ✔✔adv
-toxic to wide range of pests
-can penetrate cracks, crevices, etc
-single treatment will kill most pests
disadv
-target site must be enclosed to prevent gas from escaping
-nonspecific and highly toxic
-high inhalation risk
-require lots of PPE
-may require special application equipment
-some temp requirments
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of M - ✔✔adv
-coatings help protect applicator
-easy to handle, transport, store
-timed release of AI prolongs effectiveness
-reduced volatility
-reduced odor
-less likely to stain
-reduced phytotoxicity
disadv
-constant agitation may be required
-risk of harming bees
-long restricted-entry or preharvest intervals
✔✔Advantages and Disadvantages of WSP or WSB - ✔✔adv
-accurate, premeasured doses
-increased handling safety
-lower risk spills
disadv
-packaged size may not match volume of equipment you have
-must be kept dry
✔✔List some types of adjuvants - ✔✔-antifoaming
-Surfactants (wetting agents, spreaders)
-extenders
-stickers
-plant penetrators
-compatibility agents
-buffers or pH modifiers
-drift retardants
-defoaming agents
-thickeners
, ✔✔Define surfactant - ✔✔an inert ingredient that enhances the dispersing, spreading,
and wetting properties of spray droplets, allow the pesticide to spread evenly over the
surface of a leaf
✔✔The capacity of a pesticide to cause short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) injury
is referred to as its ____________ - ✔✔toxicity
✔✔Which statement about harmful effects of pesticides is false?
a) the most common form of pesticide injury is by inhalation
b) asthma-like symptoms may be caused by allergies to pesticides
c) many herbicides and fungicides cause dermatitis (skin reaction) - ✔✔a) the most
common form of pesticide injury is by inhalation
✔✔Which signal word is associated with very low oral LD50 values? - ✔✔DANGER-
POISON
✔✔Which statements about pesticide toxicity is true?
a) a pesticide with an oral LD50 of 5mg/kg is more toxic than a pesticide with an LD50
of 250mg/kg
b) Manufacturers are not required to include chronic toxicity warning statements on
product labels
c) the signal word on the product label indicates how likely the product is to cause both
acute and chronic toxic effects - ✔✔a) a pesticide with an oral LD50 of 5mg/kg is more
toxic than a pesticide with an LD50 of 250mg/kg
✔✔For which class(es) of pesticides might cholinesterase monitoring be appropriate?
a) Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides
b) pyrethoids
c) phenoxy herbicides, such as 2,4-D - ✔✔a) Organophosphate and carbamate
insecticides
✔✔Which statement about what happens to pesticides inside the body is true?
a) most pesticides used today are stored in our body fat
b) the kidneys filter pesticides from the blood into the urine
c) most chemical breakdown of toxic substances takes place wherever the pesticide is
first absorbed - ✔✔b) the kidneys filter pesticides from the blood into the urine
✔✔Which statement about pesticide exposure routes is true?
