Environmental Safety and Protection Flashcards
7 cards from real CPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Safety and Protection flashcards as text
A non-target organism is best defined as:
Answer: Any organism other than the target pest that may be exposed to the pesticide
Non-target organisms include all living things—plants, animals, and microorganisms—that were not intended to be affected by the pesticide application.
Which pesticide formulation type generally poses the LEAST risk of runoff into surface water?
Answer: Granular formulation (G)
Granular formulations remain in place and release active ingredient slowly, reducing the likelihood of mass movement via runoff compared to liquid formulations.
What does the term 'bioaccumulation' mean in the context of pesticide environmental fate?
Answer: The progressive increase in pesticide concentration in an organism's tissues over time
Bioaccumulation refers to the build-up of pesticide residues within an organism's tissues at concentrations higher than those found in its environment or food.
Under the Clean Water Act, discharging pesticides to waters of the United States in a way that causes harm may require:
Answer: A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit
The Clean Water Act's NPDES permit program regulates point-source discharges, including certain pesticide applications, to waters of the United States.
Which of the following soil types is MOST likely to allow rapid downward movement (leaching) of pesticides?
Answer: Sandy soil with low organic matter
Sandy soils have large pore spaces and low organic matter, which reduces pesticide adsorption and allows water and dissolved pesticides to move quickly toward groundwater.
What is the primary purpose of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach in relation to environmental protection?
Answer: To minimize pesticide use by combining biological, cultural, and chemical controls
IPM combines multiple pest control tactics to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, thereby lowering environmental risks while maintaining effective pest management.
Spray drift is most likely to be a problem during pesticide application when:
Answer: Wind speed exceeds 10 mph and droplets are fine
Fine droplets are easily carried by wind, and higher wind speeds increase the distance and volume of drift, raising the risk of off-target contamination.