Detailed reports and analytical results are available on the Publications page.

PRIVATE APPLICATOR CREDIT INCENTIVE SURVEYS

In 2007, PEMS (Pesticide Evaluation & Monitoring Section) began a series of surveys for Private Applicators. These surveys were designed to collect information about issues and concerns regarding various types of agriculture through out NJ. The surveys include Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Vineyard, Nursery and Direct Marketing. In exchange for completing a survey, the Private Applicator received one unit of Core credit towards their pesticide license recertification. The data from these surveys will be evaluated and used to determine where the Pesticide Control Program can best assist New Jersey's agricultural community.

Summaries of the Private Applicator surveys are available on the Publications page.

GROUND WATER MONITORING NETWORK

As part of the EPA's ground water protection initiative, a series of monitoring wells were installed (and continue to be installed) under the direction of PEMS since 1997. Wells were placed in areas showing higher agricultural pesticide use and are relatively shallow (20-50 feet in depth), reaching into subsurface aquifers. Wells are sampled on a routine schedule to obtain a data set of pesticide residue detections, the results directing the PCP to further investigation of problem pesticides and areas. Thirty-two wells are currently in place in central and south New Jersey. As of 2008, three of the thirty-two wells have shown consistent detections.

A detailed report of analytical results is available on the Publications page.

PESTCIDES IN MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT

The current project focus is the ground-based application of resmethrin and prallethrin for adult mosquito control. A major goal of the project is to determine the extent of the migration of the pesticide away from the target area and the amount of residue deposited in and around the site of application. Another goal is to determine how long the pesticide remains suspended in the air column after an application. Movement of the applied pesticide through wooded canopies and wide-open areas has been examined utilizing various sampling matrices including water, surface wipes and filter paper.

PEMS is currently working with Mercer county Division of Mosquito Control to monitor their routine ground-based ULV resmethrin and prallethrin applications. The current study site provides a wide range of sampling opportunities including ground and suspended (hanging) samples, wooded areas, open fields, and surface water. This work, coupled with previous work with the Bergen County Mosquito Control Program, leads PEMS to believe that humidity plays a significant role in the deposition of resmethrin after an application. PEMS will continue cooperate with the state mosquito organizations to investigate the impact of meteorological conditions on mosquito control applications in the coming years.

DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION OF CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES

In the course of investigations, the PCP frequently provides clean-up recommendations in a variety of settings. When initial cleanups fail to significantly lower the residue levels, the suppositions are that either the cleanup was not performed, despite the documentation, as per the recommendations or that the clean up recommendations themselves are not effective. In particular, several times over the past few years, PCP investigators have encountered Fipronil spills and/or misapplications that appear to be resistant to cleanup efforts. Over the winter of 2006, experiments were conducted in controlled settings that demonstrated effective cleanup methods. Subsequently, PEMS developed cleanup procedures and recommendations based on these experiments. PEMS is currently coordinating with PCP investigators to provide recommendations to the responsible parties and observe and document the spill cleanup. Post-cleanup samples will be collected to provide further documentation of the effectiveness of the clean up procedures to lower residue levels. PEMS will expand this effort to encompass a wider range of pesticides and settings over the coming years.

DCPA (DACTHAL) INVESTIGATION IN SOUTHERN NJ

Samples collected in 2005 from groundwater monitoring wells and migrant farm camps in the Vineland area revealed significant levels of the herbicide DCPA. Several of the samples were found to be well above the Health Advisory Level (HAL) established for DCPA in drinking water. Over the course of 2006, samples were collected from additional migrant camps, groundwater wells and surface water sites in the vicinity of the original detections. While none of the samples and subsequent detections approached the levels found in 2005, PEMS expanded the scope of the monitoring to identify the extent of the contamination. In 2007, surface water sampling sites were identified in eleven townships reporting DCPA use. While there were some detections, none of them exceeded the HAL. Based on all of the data collected, it appears that the presence of DCPA is localized in the Vineland area and is the result of routine agricultural use. PEMS will continue to monitor this and other areas for DCPA and other compounds.