A Reminder on Storage of Pesticides

A Reminder on Storage of Pesticides By: Andy Randall, NMDA State Chemist Improperly stored pesticides can present a potential risk to the applicator and those in proximity to the pesticides as well as to the environment. Many pesticides contain hazardous ingredients which could be very harmful to human beings, pets, livestock, fish, and the environment. There are many factors to consider for the safe storage of pesticides. These include, but are not limited to, location, environmental conditions, ventilation, compatibility, flammability, and quantity. Information on these considerations can be found in the "National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual." The environmental conditions during storage of pesticides are important because improper storage conditions will, in most cases, result in degradation of the active ingredient. The two most important sources of information regarding storage conditions are the label and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (formally called the Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS). These documents will contain general information and instructions for the safe and appropriate storage of pesticides. Please note that they may not contain specific instructions. Some good general guidelines for storage of pesticides are: - Store herbicides away from fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and seeds. - Store pesticides at temperatures between 32 ?F (0 ?C) and 100 ?F (38 ?C). - Avoid storage in direct sunlight or unventilated areas. o NOTE: Solar heating of the vehicle may result in exceeding storage temperatures when in the back of a truck or inside a vehicle (cab or trunk). This may cause decomposition of the active ingredient or pressurization of the storage container. o Some active ingredients may be light sensitive (will decompose to inactive ingredients when exposed to sunlight). - Flammable pesticides should be stored separately in a fire-proof storage cabinet. - Dry pesticides should not be stored with wet pesticides.