Evaluating Pesticide Exposure Risks

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The risks of pesticide exposure to non-target species in general and endangered species in particular are evaluated from registered use patterns, any history of fish or wildlife impacts attributed to a pesticide, or pesticides of similar toxic potential and a comparison of the biology of the non-target species with the pesticide use pattern.

A non-target pesticide exposure hazard may exist when a pesticide demonstrates high toxic potential to species in the same general taxonomic group (e.g. birds, fish, mammals, etc.) and the life cycle or behavior of the species and the formulation, site, crop or vegetation stage, season, time and method of application of a pesticide is likely to result in exposure.