Protocols for Quantifying Transferable Pesticide Residues in Turfgrass Systems

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Agronomy

Background:

• Plant canopies intercept pesticides, leading to potential human exposure.
• Transferable pesticide residue studies are mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for pesticide registration.
• Current experimental approaches for assessing pesticide transfer lack specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and evaluate experimental approaches for assessing transferable pesticide residues from turfgrass.
• To compare the utility of hand wiping, modified California roller, and soccer ball roll methods.
• To discuss considerations for conducting pesticide transfer research in turfgrass systems.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated three methods: hand wiping with cotton gloves, modified California roller, and soccer ball roll.
• Tested methods on three turfgrass species (creeping bentgrass, hybrid bermudagrass, tall fescue) at different mowing heights (0.4, 5, 9 cm).
• Assessed method reproducibility, sampling area, and applicability across mowing heights and turfgrass species.

Main Results:

• The modified California roller is reproducible and suitable for low mowing heights.
• Soccer ball roll mimics common activities and is relevant for hand-to-mouth exposure.
• Hand wiping is effective for higher mowing heights but is more subjective.

Conclusions:

• Each method has unique advantages for assessing pesticide transfer from turfgrass.
• Method selection should consider mowing height, turfgrass species, and the type of human exposure being simulated.
• Standardized approaches are needed for consistent transferable pesticide residue research.