Why is Pesticide Drift a Problem?
Pesticides spread beyond where they’re sprayed. They drift in the wind and wash downstream. New analysis of pesticide drift reveals that several widely used pesticides are regularly found far from their application sites at concentrations that significantly exceed levels deemed “safe” by regulatory agencies. Virtually everywhere pesticides are used, they drift away from their intended target and remain in the environment for days and even months. Models for pesticide use reform can be found in California and seven other states who have enacted restrictions on pesticide applications that create buffer zones ranging from 500 feet to 2 ½ miles in areas around schools.
