A highly toxic pesticide will present little hazard when:

• A. It is in a formulation that is not readily absorbed through the skin or readily inhaled.
• B. It is diluted heavily so it's not dangerous.
• C. It is only used occasionally and under conditions to which human beings are not exposed.
• D. It is only used by experienced applicators with proper equipment.

Answer: (A)

Hazard is driven by exposure. For pesticides, the main danger comes from the chemical entering your body through the skin or by inhalation. If a highly toxic pesticide is formulated so it is not readily absorbed through the skin and is not easily inhaled, the amount that actually gets into the body is very small. That means the real risk to a person is greatly reduced, even though the compound itself is highly toxic. In other words, reducing the routes and rate of entry lowers the potential harm more directly than just relying on dilution, infrequent use, or the experience of the applicator.

Diluting the product might lower the concentration, but exposure can still occur and the formulation could still permit absorption or inhalation under certain conditions. Occasional use with no expected exposure is ideal, but exposure can still happen through drift or improper handling. Even with experienced applicators and proper equipment, some risk remains if absorption or inhalation is possible. The most direct way to minimize hazard is to prevent absorption and inhalation, which is why a formulation that limits these routes presents the least hazard.