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Pesticide Formulations

Topic Fact Sheet

Some Formulations2,3
A Aerosol
B Bait
D Dust
DF Dry flowable
E,EC Emulsifiable concentrate
FL Flowable
G Granule
M Microencapsulated
P Pellet
RTU Ready-to-use
SP Soluble powder
ULV Ultra-low-volume concentrate
WP Wettable powder
WDG Water-dispersible granule

What are pesticide formulations?

A pesticide formulation is a mixture of chemicals which effectively controls a pest. Formulating a pesticide involves processing it to improve its storage, handling, safety, application, or effectiveness.1 See the text box on Some Formulations.

What makes up a formulation?

What do manufacturers consider when creating a formulation?

Type of surface

Training and equipment

Runoff or drift

Safety to people, animals, and the environment

Habits of the pest

Can pesticides be mixed together?

How are incompatibilities avoided?

Date Reviewed: December 1999

References:

  1. Ware, G.W. The Pesticide Book, 4th ed; W.H. Freeman: Fresno, CA, 1994.
  2. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service. A guide for private and commercial applicators: Applying pesticides correctly. National pesticide applicator training core manual, University of Nebraska: Lincoln, 1992.
  3. Oregon Pesticide Applicator's Manual: a guide to the safe use and handling of pesticides; Miller, T.L, ed. Oregon State University Extension Service: Corvallis, 1993.
  4. Label Review Manual; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 1998. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/label-review-manual
  5. Terms of the Environment; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 1997. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=4000081B.TXT
  6. Bohmont, B.L. The standard pesticide user's guide (revised). Prentice Hall: Princeton, NJ, 1990.
  7. Farm Chemicals Handbook 1997; Meister Publishing Company, Willoughby, OH, 1997.

NPIC fact sheets are designed to answer questions that are commonly asked by the general public about pesticides that are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). This document is intended to be educational in nature and helpful to consumers for making decisions about pesticide use.

Related Topics:

What are pests?

Learn about a pest

Identify a pest

Control a pest

Integrated Pest Management

What are pesticides?

Herbicides

Disinfectants

Fungicides

Insecticides

Natural and Biological Pesticides

Repellents

Rodenticides

Other types of pesticides

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