Mitigation of airborne parathion residues from treated cranberry bog environments bordering suburban areas by a spray adjuvant

Abstract

Cranberries are the number one agricultural cash crop in Massachusetts, yet their cultivation occurs in significantly populated coastal areas that show continuing trends toward urbanization. With the development of residential and business properties adjacent to cranberry bogs, conflicts between growers and non‐growers have arisen as persons with no experience in agricultural practices are confronted with the realities of pesticide use. The major issue is “chemical trespass”;, the deposition of pesticides outside the target area, and the corresponding potential for adverse acute and chronic health effects. Because of this, the effectiveness of using spreader and sticker spray additives (adjuvants) in reducing airborne pesticide residues from cranberry bogs was studied. Ethyl parathion (Aqua 8, FMC) was applied to a ten‐acre (four‐hectare) section of bog by both aerial and chemical irrigation (chemigation) methods, with and without adjuvant in the spray mixture. Collection sites for airborne and deposited residues were established around the periphery of the bog at distances up to 200 m, and sampling occurred for up to 48 hours post application. Aerial application resulted in approximately 3‐ to 4‐fold more total residues than chemigation. Overall residue levels were reduced by approximately 80% by the use of adjuvant in both application strategies.