Fumigation Study Guide for Commercial Applicators Category 10C July 2003 - Ohio Department of Agriculture – Pesticide Regulation 2 Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Laws that Govern Fumigation Page 5 Chapter 2 General Fumigation Information Page 8 Chapter 3 Characteristics of Fumigation Page 13 Chapter 4 Types of Fumigants Page 16 Chapter 5 The Label and Applicator Manual Page 25 Chapter 6 Determining the Need for Fumigation Page 62 Chapter 7 Fumigation Types and Processes Page 64 Chapter 8 Equipment Page 70 Chapter 9 Calculating for Fumigation Page 74 Chapter 10 Insect Biology Page 78 Chapter 11 Stored Product Pests Page 88 Chapter 12 Structural Pests Page 100 Study Question Answers Page 118 Glossary Page 119 3 Acknowledgements This study guide would not be possible if not for the information supplied by the following organizations. The Ohio Department of Agriculture is grateful for the information obtained from these various groups listed below. Thank you The US EPA Ohio State University Extension Michigan State University Extension University of Nebraska Extension National Pest Control Association Mississippi State University Extension United States Department of Agriculture Western Australia Department of Agriculture Math.com Maryland Department of Agriculture Industrial Fumigant The Dow Company Author: Diana Roll Editors Bob Wulfhorst – Ohio Department of Agriculture William Pound – Ohio Department of Agricuture Joanne Kick-Raack – Ohio State University Extension Betty Whiting – Ohio Department of Agriculture Kelly Boubary – Ohio Department of Agriculture Tim Hoffman – Ohio Department of Agriculture Employees of – The Industrial Fumigant Company Marty Morgan – The Dow Company Members of – The Ohio Pest Control Association 4 ”Fumigation means the application of Chapter 1 fumigants to structures, or to commodities or equipment which are The Laws that Govern enclosed within structures or other specially confined areas including areas Fumigation temporarily confined expressly for the purpose of fumigation, such as bins, Learning Objectives rooms, tarps, cargo spaces, and boxcars You should learn about: for the control of any vertebrate or 1. The Federal law that regulates invertebrate pests contained within fumigation these structures or confined areas.” 2. The Ohio law that regulates fumigation 3. What the Ohio State Certification Plan THE STATE CERTIFICATION PLAN is The state certification plan is an Ohio Department of Agriculture document that THE FEDERAL LAW sets forth standards of competency by which the Ohio Department of Agriculture The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, abides. This document governs the way Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), also known as the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the The Federal Environmental Pest Control Ohio State University Extension conduct Act of 1982 (FEPCA), is the Federal law the examination process and the pesticide that regulates Pesticide use in Ohio in applicator training programs. conjunction with the Ohio Pesticide Law. The state certification sets the standards of THE OHIO LAW competency for the category of fumigation as follows: The Ohio Revised Code Chapter 901:5-11- 01 is the state pesticide law that regulates 10c Fumigation: Commercial applicators commercial pesticide applicators who shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of: perform fumigations. • Common pests and their biology of Most fumigants are restricted use structures, raw agricultural commodities pesticides. This means anyone who uses stored products, and other commodities restricted use fumigants must be licensed contained within structures, except, if you are working under direct compartments and various enclosed supervision of a licensed applicator. To spaces. purchase restricted use fumigants you must be licensed. Also, if you are doing • Fumigant materials registered for their fumigation for hire you need to be licensed. Control. To become a commercial pesticide • Equipment, methods of applications, applicator for fumigation you must take and and appropriate monitoring procedures. pass the Core exam and the category specific exam (Fumigation). The definition • Potential hazards to humans and of fumigation in the law is as follows: animals. 5 • Other pertinent information necessary additional fee required. Exams are only for safe and adequate application of valid for one year from the date you pass pesticides. the exam. If you do not meet the other qualifications for a license within that year PESTICIDE LICENSE INFORMATION the exams will expire and you will need to retest. Please call the Pesticide Regulation The Application Process Section at (614) 728-6987 or The application and fee are only valid for 1-800-282-1955 to schedule your exam or the licensing year noted on the application register online at www.ohioagriculture.gov that is submitted, it cannot be extended to the next licensing year once it is submitted. If all the requirements are not met within the OSUE New School license years listed on the application and There is a Pesticide Applicator New School fee then the application is voided and the for new applicants conducted by the Ohio fee is non refundable. License fees cannot State University Extension that is held be transferred from one company to every year in late Feb. or early March. another. When a first time applicant submits the application and fee study material will Their web site is: http://pested.osu.edu. be sent to assist in preparation for the This site also offers other licensing examinations. Categories are listed on the information; test sites, recertification sites applications. and study material. The application is only valid for the Commercial Renewal and Recertification licensing year in which you have applied. Information (The year is listed on the application). If you Once you have passed the applicable exam do not meet the requirements within the for the license and a license has been year that you have applied, then a new issued, you are certified for three years. application and fee will be required, no The license must be renewed continuously refund will be given. every year in order to keep the three-year certification valid. You need to renew the Exams license every year (at the end of Examination requirements are: the General- September), which consists of submitting a Core examination, which covers the law, renewal application and fee. You need to regulations, safety, disposal and related recertify every three years (recertification topics. An examination for each category is due by on your license) by retesting or also required. The categorical examinations attending recertification programs. Your are specific to what area you will be recertification is based on the first year you applying the insecticide, herbicide, obtained your license, which is based on fungicide, etc. All examinations consist of the license year you passed exams and multiple choice and some true false met all other requirements Ounce you have questions. The exams are closed book been issued a license, you may begin exams. Exam results are mailed two-three obtaining your recertification credits at any weeks after the test date, they are not time during the three-year recertification given over the phone. If you fail the cycle. You must obtain the following exams, you must wait al lease five days to requirements for recertification – TOTAL retest. If you need to retest there is no MINIMUM OF FIVE HOUSE OF TRAINING 6 CONSISTING OF 1 HOUR OF CORE 3. The State Certification Plan is the TRAINING AND ½ HOUR IN EACH document that governs how pesticide- CATEGORY YOU ARE LICENSED. training programs are to be conducted. HOWEVER IT MUST BE A TOTAL MINIMUM OF FIVE HOURS. If you have A. True met your category requirements you must B. False still make sure you meet the time requirement by attending approved classes whether they are in your licensed category ANSWERS TO THESE or not. QUESTIONS ARE IN If you do not meet the recertification requirements of 1-hour minimum in Core THE BACK OF THIS and at least ½ hour in your licensed BOOK. category or categories with a total time of 5 hours before the recertification expiration date listed on your license then you must retest. Chapter 1 Study Questions These questions were developed to test your knowledge of this chapter. 1. FIFRA stands for the state law that regulates pesticide applications. A. True B. False 2. Fumigation applications can be performed by licensed applicators only. A. True B. False 7 They should be handled with due care and Chapter 2 judgment. General Fumigation FUMIGANTS OFFER THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES OVER PESTICIDES: Information • Fumigants commonly used are toxic to Learning Objectives all animal pests, insects, spiders, mites You should learn about: and rodents. 1. What is fumigation 2. How fumigants work • The use of fumigants is usually the 3. How fumigants are used quickest method of controlling pests. 4. Safety Rules for fumigators 5. Whether fumigation is necessary • Fumigants will usually reach pests where sprays, powders or dusts cannot WHAT IS FUMIGATION? be applied. Fumigation is the distribution of a chemical • Some fumigants can be used to kill pesticide as a gas through spaces and pests in or near food, leaving no harmful materials. This is because gas molecules residues whereas other pesticides may exist separately and independently. They contaminate or taint food. spread widely into small cracks and crevices. They penetrate into tightly packed • In specific situations, fumigants may be materials. The term “space fumigation” less