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Each day, thousands of people use pesticides on their lawns, their trees or even their farms. However, most people know the dangers associated with pesticides. These chemicals have been linked to human illness, water pollution and even death of animals. If pesticides are mishandled in any way, there could be serious consequences. That is why knowing how to mix the chemicals properly is so important. <\/p>\n
The dangers of inaccurate mixing<\/strong> Mixing chemicals and water correctly is even more important for farmers, who may not realize the number of people they are affecting with their crops. If a solution is mixed too strongly and then sprayed across a field, it could exceed the maximum tolerance for that crop. Tolerance levels are the highest level of chemicals a person can ingest without getting sick. Usually it is recommended that produce and other products are well below the tolerance level. According to the University of Kentucky, the levels of tolerance are set into place by the federal government. According to their website, "The Federal government sets residue tolerances for all pesticides used in the production of crop and animal products intended for food or feed, and for pesticides applied after harvest." <\/p>\n Hard to detect <\/strong> Luckily, there is an easy way for farmers and others to determine the correct measurements for pesticides so they do not misuse these chemicals. The solution is simply through a phone app. The new app, known as The DuPont TankMix Calculator Application allows a person to figure out the correct ratio of water to pesticide chemicals for what they are spraying. People can also determine how much they can spray by adding in the area size.<\/p>\n With products like these, mixing and using chemicals is becoming a lot easier and safer.<\/p>\n
\nIf people do not add the right amount of water, there could be serious problems. Either the pesticide might not kill the pests or it might end up too powerful and kill unintended creatures. Whether people are mixing wet formulas or dry ones, precaution is needed during every step. However, if people use a pesticide applicator more than once, they may end up misplacing the directions or forgetting which portion of what goes into the mix, leaving a serious risk for danger. It is also important that people do not mix more than the applicator can handle and end up leaving it aside hoping to use it later. Certain concentrations are too strong to apply to small areas of land, such as a garden or a small patch of lawn. However, it can be difficult to gauge the level of potency with the amount of land people are working with.<\/p>\n
\nIt is impossible for pesticide applicators to detect the tolerance level for each crop, or determine the residue levels on each crop. Sometimes, residues are useful when farmers are looking to enjoy long-term pest control. However, it also can be difficult for people to understand tolerance levels. So what are people to do?<\/p>\n