Agricultural chemical drift - An Overview

Government agencies receive many complaints about drift of agricultural chemicals away from the target area. 'Spray drift' can arise from land-based or aerial application of chemicals to control pests and diseases in a variety of situations, including farmland, forests, parks and gardens, water catchments and roadside reserves.

Drift can also occur from other chemical applications such as disinfectants used in animal houses (for example, poultry sheds) or fogging/misting formulations used in warehouses (especially foodstores).

Common examples of 'off-target spray drift' include:

• Chemical drift from horticultural/agricultural land (orchards, vineyards, etc.) onto nearby properties (for example, new housing developments built on old agricultural land). These can often be ongoing, although intermittent, situations.
  
  
• Overspray of chemicals during aerial application - often associated with windy conditions or inversion conditions.
  
  
• Chemicals drifting onto passers by - transient exposure, usually a 'one-off' incident.
  
  
• Chemicals drifting onto people working on a property where chemicals are being applied, or on adjoining properties.
  
  
• Chemicals contaminating household water tanks, either directly or through run-off from the roof.
  
  
• Contamination of agricultural commodities on adjoining properties - land, crops, pastures or livestock.
  
  
• Contamination of farm dams.
  
  
• Chemicals entering streams, lakes and other waterways.

Drift incidents may cause specific human health problems, including stress or anxiety, or more general concerns about smell or air pollution. There may be general objections from the public because of imprecise placement of spray or drift in closely settled areas, or complaints about aerial applicators flying too close to houses or schools. There may be damage to trees or gardens, or frightening of livestock.

There may also be specific complaints about spraying in a Chemical Control Area (as designated by Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE)).

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