What levels of pesticides are harmful to people when sprayed in public areas like parks and golf courses?

Question

I am doing project and I could not find the EPA limit on pesticides that can be used on public areas. So the next best thing I could know is what levels of pesticides sprayed on public areas can be harful to people: particularly atrazine and simazine

Answer 1

It depends who you are.  Infants and the elderly are going to be in a different risk group than young adults or the middle aged.  People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are of higher risk, meaning less tolerant of pesticide use.

Keep looking for the lists of what the EPA allows and under what conditions it is allowed.  A chemical that is used near a waterway may not be the same one that is permitted a few hundred feet away.  Applicators must be trained and licensed.

That said, people get sloppy.  If you can't find the data through the EPA or USDA, contact the grounds manager at a nearby golf course and inquire about their application programs.  He or she can put you in touch with someone who needs to be able to produce documentation and answer questions to officials.  

Or, go to the research desk at the library and enlist their help.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Each chemical product is different. The manufacturer is supposed to print that type of information on the label and if you go to their website you should be able to search for Material Safety Data Sheet, MSDS sheets which give all hazardous information as well as handling procedures for each specific product.