Which type of dry solid pesticide formulation is always applied dry and can easily drift to non-target sites?

• A. Dusts
• B. Wettable Powders (WP)
• C. Granules (Gran)
• D. Pellets (Pel)

Answer: (A)

Drift potential is closely tied to particle size and how the product is applied. Dusts are the finest dry solid formulations and are used as a plain powder without mixing with water. That tiny particle size means wind and air currents can lift and carry the powder far from the target, so it easily drifts to non-target sites. In contrast, granules and pellets are larger and heavier, so they tend to stay closer to the ground and don’t travel far. Wettable powders are dry solids but are meant to be mixed with water to form a spray, so they aren’t applied as a dry powder in the same way. Thus, dusts best fit the description of always being dry and highly drift-prone.