MDARD Michigan Core Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

Pesticides that are strongly adsorbed to soils are:

1. More likely to be leached

2. Less likely to be carried away by surface water

3. Quickly broken down by microbes

4. More likely to evaporate

The correct answer is: Less likely to be carried away by surface water

Pesticides that are strongly adsorbed to soils tend to have a strong affinity for soil particles, which significantly reduces their mobility in the environment. When pesticides are adsorbed to soil, they are less likely to be transported away by surface water runoff because their adherence to soil particles keeps them in place. This characteristic helps to minimize the risk of pesticide contamination in nearby water bodies, as these substances are effectively immobilized rather than being easily washed away. The other options don't accurately reflect the behavior of strongly adsorbed pesticides. Pesticides that are strongly adsorbed are actually less likely to be leached into groundwater, and they do not break down rapidly due to microbial action because their binding to soil particles can protect them from microbial degradation. Additionally, these pesticides are not prone to evaporation, as their strong attachment to the soil means they do not easily transition from a solid to a gas state.