Mastering Massachusetts Pesticide Application: A
Comprehensive Guide to Best Practices and
Regulatory Compliance.
An Ultimate Guide to Exam Study Guide
2025/2026.
Chronic health effect - ansProblems that develop over a relatively long period of time,
following either one significant exposure that initiates a problem, or following a series of
small exposures which accumulate in some manner and result in a development of a disease
or disorder
acute toxicity - ansPoisoning from a single dose over a much shorter duration of time
How soon do health effects occur from accrue toxicity? - ansWithin 24 hours of exposure
Chronic health risk problems (major examples) - ansMutagenicity, oncogenicity,
carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity
Mutagenicity - ansAbility of a substance or agent to cause mutations to genes or
chromosomes
Changes from mutagenicity are... - ansAlmost always harmful
Tests to detect mutagenicity - ansVaried. Tests on cells to tests on whole animals
It's believed that chemicals that cause mutations are more likely to be ones that can also
cause... - ansCancers
Why is mutation testing used as a first screen for new compounds? - ansFaster and cheaper
than animal lifetime testing
Oncogenicity - ansThe ability of a chemical to cause abnormal growths or tumors in tissues
Carcinogenicity - ansAbility of a substance or agent to cause malignant tumors
How do they test chemicals for their ability to cause tumors - ansAdministering daily doses to
animals for their entire lifetime and then dissecting them to detect presence of tumors in the
animals tissues
A rodent carcinogenicity study takes how long typically? - ans2-3 years
Pesticide companies are required to submit test data on oncogenicity from.... - ansSeveral
animal species
There are currently how many pesticide active ingredients considered known, likely, or
probable carcinogens - ansOver 70
MDAR - ansMassachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Act to protect children and families from harmful pesticides - ansPassed in 2000. Pesticide
products that contain carcinogens may not be used in or around schools, daycares, or after
school programs
Teratogenicity - ansAbility of a substance to cause abnormal growth or deformity in
developing fetuses (birth defects)
How is teratogenicity tested - ansAdministering doses of chemical to female test animals at
various stages of pregnancies and observing number of miscarriages and defective offspring
verses what would normally be expected
Examples of animals used to test teratogenicity - ansRodents, rabbits, dogs, monkeys
Effects of chemicals are usually considered significant for teratogenicity if... - ansThey occur
at doses not toxic by themselves to the mother
Testing for teratogenicity is standard part of pesticide registration although ___________
May exist for older chemicals - ansData gaps
Neurotoxicity - ansGradual damage to basic nerve structure. Does not refer to reversible
effects
Test animal for neurotoxicity - ansChicken
,Mastering Massachusetts Pesticide Application: A
Comprehensive Guide to Best Practices and
Regulatory Compliance.
An Ultimate Guide to Exam Study Guide
2025/2026.
Hepatoxicity - ansDamage to liver
Nephrotoxicity - ansdamage to the kidneys
Immunotoxicity - ansCompromise immune system
Fetotoxicity - ansDirect toxic injury or death of fetus
Hemotoxic effects - ansBlood disorders
Cholinesterases - ansEnzymes found in humans, insects, and other species that are necessary
for normal function of the nervous system
What kind of insecticides can block or inhibit cholinesterases - ansOrganophosphates,
carbamates
How much exposure to cholinesterase blocking pesticides does it take to make you feel sick -
ansDepends on type of product, potency of active ingredient, amount of exposure, whether
you're handling concentrated or diluted mixture
Effects of exposure to cholinesterase blocking pesticides - ansMay range from no observable
effects to severe illnesses or symptoms requiring hospitalization. Severe poisoning can lead
to coma or death
When do symptoms occur after exposure to cholinesterase blocking pesticides -
ansAnywhere from time of exposure to 12 hours
Symptoms of acute poisoning from cholinesterase blocking pesticides - ansNausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, tightness in chest, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, cramps, restlessness,
headache, confusion
Poisoning from organophosphates or carbamates can resemble... - ansDrunkenness, head
cold, flu
Why monitor cholinesterase levels - ansTo establish a baseline for normal activity and be
alerted to any drop in enzyme levels before they reach values low enough to make you sick.
Changes can be detected in absence of symptoms. Workers can be removed from exposure
before symptoms occur
Natural recovery from cholinesterase blocking pesticides exposure normally occurs... -
ansWhen exposure stops
Who should have their cholinesterase levels monitored? - ansPeople who regularly use
organophosphates and carbamates
What should you do if you are inadvertently exposed to cholinesterase blocking pesticides -
ansRemove contaminated clothing. Wash area well with soap and water. Contact physician
immediately
How can pesticide exposure effect honey bees - ansDisorientation that can effect how well a
bee can navigate, forage for food, and return to colony safely
What are the main contributing factors leading to bee poisoning problems - ansBloom,
toxicity of the pesticide to bees, residual action, formulation, drift of chemical, timing,
temperature, strength of colony, distance from treated fields
bloom - ansContamination of blooming plants with insecticides
It is not recommended to do insecticide application during ____________ and many are
prohibited on the label - ansBlooming period
Avoid spraying __________ that are growing in orchards or in fallow areas adjacent to crops
- ansBlooming weeds
, Mastering Massachusetts Pesticide Application: A
Comprehensive Guide to Best Practices and
Regulatory Compliance.
An Ultimate Guide to Exam Study Guide
2025/2026.
In landscape and lawn settings avoid applying insecticides ______________ - ansWhen
flowering ground cover is in bloom
Tree spray work must not be done ___________ - ansTo ornamentals such as flowering
crabapples when they are in bloom
Shade trees must not be sprayed ___________ - ansWhen they are in bloom or pollen shed
____________ are also attractive to bees and must be considered as if in flower - ansPlants in
pollen shed
Bees tend to be ______ susceptible to pesticide poisoning than many target pest insects -
ansMore
Where will information about bee toxicity for a specific pesticide he found -
ansEnvironmental hazards section of label
Residual pesticides - ansChemicals designed to provide pest control for days or weeks
Dusts are _________ hazardous than sprays to bees - ansMore
Why do wettable powders have a longer toxic hazard to bees - ansCling better to body hair of
foraging bees
What is the most hazardous formulation to bees - ansMicroencapsulation
Microencapsulation - ansActive ingredient is encased in tiny nylon type plastic capsules
Why are microencapsulated pesticides so hazardous to bees - ansCapsules have special
tendency to adhere to bees because of their size and electrostatic charge. When contaminated
pollen is stored in beehive combs it remains toxic to bees from one season to the next
What is recommended to reduce drift of chemical - ansCutting or mowing weeds
When do we apply least hazardous formulations when it's required during blooming period -
ansLate evening
Honey bees can become active and forage at temperatures as low as _______ - ans55 degrees
F
At very high temperature (90F+) bees may forage less for pollen and nectar and more for
__________ to cool the hive - ansWater
During high temperatures (90F+) _____________ May be a source of injury to bees foraging
for water - ansPuddles of spray
Why do larger honey bee colonies suffer greater losses than smaller colonies - ansMore
foragers are exposed to pesticide residues while flying outside of the hive
Most severely damaged colonies of honey bees will be those __________ - ansImmediately
adjacent to fields/areas where pesticides have been applied
During a lack of pollen and nectar bees have been severely poisoned up to ______ miles from
treatment area - ans5
If a label says "do not apply while bees are visiting treatment area" it refers to.... - ansBees
that you see on plants
If a label says "do not apply if bees are visiting treatment area" it refers to... - ansBees on
plants and bees that may visit plants after treatment. Indicates pesticide has extended residual
toxicity
Neonicotinoid Insecticides were first registered in the USA in... - ansMid 1990s
Comprehensive Guide to Best Practices and
Regulatory Compliance.
An Ultimate Guide to Exam Study Guide
2025/2026.
Chronic health effect - ansProblems that develop over a relatively long period of time,
following either one significant exposure that initiates a problem, or following a series of
small exposures which accumulate in some manner and result in a development of a disease
or disorder
acute toxicity - ansPoisoning from a single dose over a much shorter duration of time
How soon do health effects occur from accrue toxicity? - ansWithin 24 hours of exposure
Chronic health risk problems (major examples) - ansMutagenicity, oncogenicity,
carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity
Mutagenicity - ansAbility of a substance or agent to cause mutations to genes or
chromosomes
Changes from mutagenicity are... - ansAlmost always harmful
Tests to detect mutagenicity - ansVaried. Tests on cells to tests on whole animals
It's believed that chemicals that cause mutations are more likely to be ones that can also
cause... - ansCancers
Why is mutation testing used as a first screen for new compounds? - ansFaster and cheaper
than animal lifetime testing
Oncogenicity - ansThe ability of a chemical to cause abnormal growths or tumors in tissues
Carcinogenicity - ansAbility of a substance or agent to cause malignant tumors
How do they test chemicals for their ability to cause tumors - ansAdministering daily doses to
animals for their entire lifetime and then dissecting them to detect presence of tumors in the
animals tissues
A rodent carcinogenicity study takes how long typically? - ans2-3 years
Pesticide companies are required to submit test data on oncogenicity from.... - ansSeveral
animal species
There are currently how many pesticide active ingredients considered known, likely, or
probable carcinogens - ansOver 70
MDAR - ansMassachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Act to protect children and families from harmful pesticides - ansPassed in 2000. Pesticide
products that contain carcinogens may not be used in or around schools, daycares, or after
school programs
Teratogenicity - ansAbility of a substance to cause abnormal growth or deformity in
developing fetuses (birth defects)
How is teratogenicity tested - ansAdministering doses of chemical to female test animals at
various stages of pregnancies and observing number of miscarriages and defective offspring
verses what would normally be expected
Examples of animals used to test teratogenicity - ansRodents, rabbits, dogs, monkeys
Effects of chemicals are usually considered significant for teratogenicity if... - ansThey occur
at doses not toxic by themselves to the mother
Testing for teratogenicity is standard part of pesticide registration although ___________
May exist for older chemicals - ansData gaps
Neurotoxicity - ansGradual damage to basic nerve structure. Does not refer to reversible
effects
Test animal for neurotoxicity - ansChicken
,Mastering Massachusetts Pesticide Application: A
Comprehensive Guide to Best Practices and
Regulatory Compliance.
An Ultimate Guide to Exam Study Guide
2025/2026.
Hepatoxicity - ansDamage to liver
Nephrotoxicity - ansdamage to the kidneys
Immunotoxicity - ansCompromise immune system
Fetotoxicity - ansDirect toxic injury or death of fetus
Hemotoxic effects - ansBlood disorders
Cholinesterases - ansEnzymes found in humans, insects, and other species that are necessary
for normal function of the nervous system
What kind of insecticides can block or inhibit cholinesterases - ansOrganophosphates,
carbamates
How much exposure to cholinesterase blocking pesticides does it take to make you feel sick -
ansDepends on type of product, potency of active ingredient, amount of exposure, whether
you're handling concentrated or diluted mixture
Effects of exposure to cholinesterase blocking pesticides - ansMay range from no observable
effects to severe illnesses or symptoms requiring hospitalization. Severe poisoning can lead
to coma or death
When do symptoms occur after exposure to cholinesterase blocking pesticides -
ansAnywhere from time of exposure to 12 hours
Symptoms of acute poisoning from cholinesterase blocking pesticides - ansNausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, tightness in chest, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, cramps, restlessness,
headache, confusion
Poisoning from organophosphates or carbamates can resemble... - ansDrunkenness, head
cold, flu
Why monitor cholinesterase levels - ansTo establish a baseline for normal activity and be
alerted to any drop in enzyme levels before they reach values low enough to make you sick.
Changes can be detected in absence of symptoms. Workers can be removed from exposure
before symptoms occur
Natural recovery from cholinesterase blocking pesticides exposure normally occurs... -
ansWhen exposure stops
Who should have their cholinesterase levels monitored? - ansPeople who regularly use
organophosphates and carbamates
What should you do if you are inadvertently exposed to cholinesterase blocking pesticides -
ansRemove contaminated clothing. Wash area well with soap and water. Contact physician
immediately
How can pesticide exposure effect honey bees - ansDisorientation that can effect how well a
bee can navigate, forage for food, and return to colony safely
What are the main contributing factors leading to bee poisoning problems - ansBloom,
toxicity of the pesticide to bees, residual action, formulation, drift of chemical, timing,
temperature, strength of colony, distance from treated fields
bloom - ansContamination of blooming plants with insecticides
It is not recommended to do insecticide application during ____________ and many are
prohibited on the label - ansBlooming period
Avoid spraying __________ that are growing in orchards or in fallow areas adjacent to crops
- ansBlooming weeds
, Mastering Massachusetts Pesticide Application: A
Comprehensive Guide to Best Practices and
Regulatory Compliance.
An Ultimate Guide to Exam Study Guide
2025/2026.
In landscape and lawn settings avoid applying insecticides ______________ - ansWhen
flowering ground cover is in bloom
Tree spray work must not be done ___________ - ansTo ornamentals such as flowering
crabapples when they are in bloom
Shade trees must not be sprayed ___________ - ansWhen they are in bloom or pollen shed
____________ are also attractive to bees and must be considered as if in flower - ansPlants in
pollen shed
Bees tend to be ______ susceptible to pesticide poisoning than many target pest insects -
ansMore
Where will information about bee toxicity for a specific pesticide he found -
ansEnvironmental hazards section of label
Residual pesticides - ansChemicals designed to provide pest control for days or weeks
Dusts are _________ hazardous than sprays to bees - ansMore
Why do wettable powders have a longer toxic hazard to bees - ansCling better to body hair of
foraging bees
What is the most hazardous formulation to bees - ansMicroencapsulation
Microencapsulation - ansActive ingredient is encased in tiny nylon type plastic capsules
Why are microencapsulated pesticides so hazardous to bees - ansCapsules have special
tendency to adhere to bees because of their size and electrostatic charge. When contaminated
pollen is stored in beehive combs it remains toxic to bees from one season to the next
What is recommended to reduce drift of chemical - ansCutting or mowing weeds
When do we apply least hazardous formulations when it's required during blooming period -
ansLate evening
Honey bees can become active and forage at temperatures as low as _______ - ans55 degrees
F
At very high temperature (90F+) bees may forage less for pollen and nectar and more for
__________ to cool the hive - ansWater
During high temperatures (90F+) _____________ May be a source of injury to bees foraging
for water - ansPuddles of spray
Why do larger honey bee colonies suffer greater losses than smaller colonies - ansMore
foragers are exposed to pesticide residues while flying outside of the hive
Most severely damaged colonies of honey bees will be those __________ - ansImmediately
adjacent to fields/areas where pesticides have been applied
During a lack of pollen and nectar bees have been severely poisoned up to ______ miles from
treatment area - ans5
If a label says "do not apply while bees are visiting treatment area" it refers to.... - ansBees
that you see on plants
If a label says "do not apply if bees are visiting treatment area" it refers to... - ansBees on
plants and bees that may visit plants after treatment. Indicates pesticide has extended residual
toxicity
Neonicotinoid Insecticides were first registered in the USA in... - ansMid 1990s
