32 



MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION NO. 10 65, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



residues in milk of dairy cows consuming such hay. 

 This use is no longer registered or recommended. 



The application of persistent insecticides, such 

 as dieldrin for the eradication of the Japanese 

 beetle, led to low-level but significant residues in 

 livestock grazing in the eradication area. 



The careless disposition of insecticide and in- 

 secticide containers has caused injury to livestock 

 through contamination of drinking water and feed. 



Improper use of insecticides and so-called empty 

 containers have caused injuries, and in a few cases 

 even death, to farmers and farm labor applying 

 the materials, and has created hazards to workers 

 in the treated fields. 



Herbicides 



Use of selective herbicides has made a tremen- 

 dous contribution to agricultural and forestry 

 production. But these chemicals can be misused or 

 used without proper precautions. The adverse 

 effects arising from the use of these chemicals fall 

 predominantly on agriculture and forestry. 



Spray drift and vapors from aerial and ground 

 applications of herbicides for the control of weeds 

 and brush on nonagrieultural lands, such as utility 

 rights-of-way, roadsides, railroads, ditchbanks. 

 and industrial and aquatic sites, often cause dam- 

 age to nontarget crops — flowers, ornamentals, and 

 trees. The volatile ester formulations of the phe- 

 noxy herbicides cause the greatest number of dam- 

 age claims, but other herbicides also may cause 

 damage. 



Drift from aerial application of a herbicide on 

 a crop such as rice may seriously damage a sensi- 

 tive crop such as cotton, even miles away. In years 

 past, there were serious incidents of this sort, but 

 adherence to careful field application procedures 

 has largely eliminated this source of damage. In 

 addition, many States now control the application 

 of herbicides by aircraft. 



A herbicide may be carefully tested under cer- 

 tain enviromental conditions for a specific cror 

 and deemed to be completely safe: but under a 

 changed environment, identical use on the same 

 crop may cause serious damage. For example, 

 prometryne was found to be completely safe for 

 use as a selective herbicide on potato fields at many 

 locations in the Northern States. However, in the 

 San Joaouin Vallev of California, residual effects 



caused serious damage to potatoes in the spring of 

 1966. 



Herbicide wastes from sprayer-loading areas 

 and storage areas, improper disposal of empty con- 

 tainers, and excess herbicides may damage nearby 

 crops. Herbicide wastes maj- enter drainage and 

 irrigation ditches and cause damage far removed 

 from the source of contamination. 



Fungicides, Rodenticides, Industrial Chemicals 



Occasional incidents occur wherein careless han- 

 dling or misuse of these substances cause damage 

 to agriculture or forestry, but adverse effects from 

 these entities are much less than those experienced 

 from insecticides and herbicides. 



Seriousness of the Problem 



The presence of residues in agricultural com- 

 modities, resulting from accidental contamination 

 or inadvertent use of pesticides could constitute a 

 significant economic problem. Small quantities of 

 potatoes, sugarbeet pulp, and soybean oil have been 

 seized because of pesticide residues. Such events 

 can adversely affect consumer acceptance and con- 

 sumption of agricultural products once these 

 incidents are brought to public attention. 



The economic impact from the loss of honey bees 

 and other beneficial insects, due to pesticides, has 

 not been determined. In areas highly dependent on 

 pollinating insects the losses could be substantial. 



The economic losses incurred by damages from 

 herbicide vapors and spray drift are unknown. 

 However, the litigation and damage claims were 

 sufficiently serious during the past 20 years to cause 

 passage of laws and establishment of regulations 

 in 45 States which authorize certain restrictions on 

 the use of herbicides. 



Damages to agriculture have occurred from use 

 of pesticides, but the benefits far outweigh the 

 damages. Whitten (133) has provided a penetrat- 

 ing review of the evidence concerning adverse ef- 

 fects from using pesticides. Mistakes have been 

 made. Decisions and recommendations have in the 

 past proceeded from inadequate information. We 

 must exercise every caution. But when one con- 

 siders all the evidence relating to the use of these 

 chemicals, their great assistance in man's eternal 

 fight against insects, diseases, and weeds dwarfs 

 the damages incurred by inadvertent use. 



