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Drift

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Pesticides, like other industrial chemicals released into the environment, can move through the air. The offsite movement of pesticides is typically referred to as drift. With more Californians living closer to agricultural fields, drift incidents that cause human illness and property damage are more likely to occur. Drift onto adjacent crops can lead to severe crop damage or illegal residues.

The job of DPR and the county agricultural commissioners (CACs) is to make sure that pesticide levels in the air do not pose a risk to health and the environment. Regulators manage drift through enforceable standards on how, when, and where pesticides should be applied.

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For content questions contact:
Roy Rutz
1001 I Street, PO Box 4015
Sacramento, California 95814-4015
Phone: (916) 445-4279
E-mail: rrutz@cdpr.ca.gov