Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicators CORE Exam

What is one disadvantage associated with emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations?

1. Easy to measure

2. May damage treated plants or animals

3. Low risk of skin absorption

4. Drift hazard

The correct answer is: May damage treated plants or animals

Emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations contain active ingredients that are dissolved in a solvent, which typically includes petroleum-derived compounds. One significant disadvantage of EC formulations is that they may damage treated plants or animals. This damage could stem from the solvent or other ingredients in the formulation, which can sometimes cause phytotoxicity (harm to plants) or adverse effects on animals. Care must be taken when applying these products, as the potential for injury to target organisms poses risks that applicators need to manage effectively. Considering the other options, the ease of measurement does not inherently represent a disadvantage; in fact, EC products are often favored for their convenient measuring properties. Similarly, EC formulations do present a higher risk for skin absorption compared to other types of formulations, which compounds the risk for handlers. Lastly, while drift hazard can indeed be a concern with EC formulations, it is not specifically linked to the formulation type itself but is a broader issue associated with many pesticide application methods.