Objectives
When I first embarked on this topic, I was thinking really broadly about how the everyday chemicals we use in our society effect the environment. The focus for this unit will be with the chemicals that are used by professional land care managers and by Joe Public purchased at the Home Depot. I early on want to also discuss the concept that green industry's use of chemicals is very regulated and applicators must have a certification and must pass a rather in depth exam in order to apply these chemicals commercially. My students in 12 th grade all take the exam to gain this pesticide/fertilization certification and not all pass, even with many hours of instruction and a desire to do well on it. I have even witnessed experienced landscape contractors not being able to pass this exam. Many think that the ills from landscape chemicals felt by the environment come from the professionally maintained golf courses and from farms. I sincerely believe that that is not the case with these chemicals. These applicators are well versed in the proper application of these chemicals and they are driven by economics. These chemicals are very expensive and they are not going to apply more than needed to their crops or to the turf and landscape areas than they need to. This cuts into their bottom line and can ultimately reduce profits to the point where it is more economical to abandon a crop rather than to apply another round of pesticide.
On the other hand you hear radio commercials about lawn chemicals and see the numerous pallets of turf chemicals and pesticides lined up at the big home improvement stores. Anyone can buy enough of these chemicals to eradicate any sort of pest and to eutrophy and contaminate the surface waters and aquifers in their watershed. The problem with access to all these chemicals is that, just like our students and maybe yourself, when all else fails the applicator follows the directions. Many just get out their rotary spreader and just run back and forth across their lawn until they can see a large coverage of pellet all over their lawn. They haven't done a soil test; they haven't calculated the amount they will need; they just use up the bag they bought since they figure that if a little bit is good, more is going to be even better! In a study conducted on "amateur" applicators of pesticides, there are a few findings that prove this point. In the study, all participants were subjected to a high exposure of the chemical since it did not warn to use gloves during mixing and loading; the concentration of the solution they made was inaccurate in all but one instance and the concentration was between 55 and 177% of that recommended.[5] This is why I feel that it is essential to teach my students what the different classes of chemicals are, for them to understand what the toxicological impact of different chemicals will be when they handle them, and also what effect they may have on the environment if handled incorrectly and applied at the improper rate.
This unit is designed to help ensure that my students have a sound understanding of the different chemicals they may come in contact with working in the green industry in whichever capacity they choose to pursue. Through my high school landscaping curriculum and also the DE State Pesticide Certification students engage in during their senior year, the actual chemistry of these pesticide materials is not explored at all. Students are told to read the label and follow the instructions on them, but they do not explore the chemical compounds they are applying to the landscape. My students take chemistry in 11 th grade, but, in talking with the chemistry teacher at our high school, there is no mention of any of these compounds in the class. Being an environmental scientist, I know of the impacts of organic compounds and their persistence in the environment and feel the knowledge through this unit will have great benefits to my students.
This unit will be used with my 12 th grade students enrolled in my Environmental Landscape Technology (ELT) program. The timing of this unit will be in January / February right before the Delaware State Pesticide Applicator exam is given in late February. The training for the pesticide certification takes approximately six weeks and this unit will encompass two weeks within this block of time. If you teach horticulture related curriculum, this unit will be very helpful to you as a springboard to work towards getting your students their certification as well.
In Delaware our units are driven by what is called "Enduring Understandings". This is what you want the students to remember from your class 30 years from now. I was pondering what my enduring understanding would be and I kept coming up with a page of things that I want them to know! My enduring understanding for this unit is that students will be able to select pesticides based on effectiveness, toxicity to non-target species, site characteristics, as well as their solubility and persistence. If I can help students learn how to properly select pesticides in this way, I will have empowered them with the skills to make very informed decisions on pesticide use and reduce their impact on the environment.
I was honored with the distinction of being chosen as one of DuPont's National Agriscience Ambassadors for the National FFA organization. Through this appointment, I work with other teachers from around the country in order to put more age appropriate mathematics and science into the agriscience curriculum used. My hope with this unit is that other agriscience instructors can implement it with their students who are pursuing a pathway in horticulture, plant science, or landscaping. This will help those students have a better grasp on the power of the chemicals they apply and the precautions they should take for themselves and for the watersheds they apply them to.
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