MDARD Michigan Core Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

What is an approximate lethal oral dose of a category II pesticide for a 150-pound person?

1. 1 ounce to 4 ounces

2. 1 teaspoon to 1 ounce

3. 2 ounces to 3 ounces

4. 1 tablespoon to 1 ounce

The correct answer is: 1 teaspoon to 1 ounce

The approximate lethal oral dose for a category II pesticide is specifically defined in terms of the amount that could be lethal when ingested. For category II pesticides, which are characterized as being moderately toxic, the median lethal dose (LD50) is typically between 50 to 500 mg/kg of body weight. For a 150-pound person, which is approximately 68 kg, this translates to a potentially lethal dose in the range of roughly 3,400 to 34,000 mg, depending on the specific pesticide. To convert this to a more practical measure like ounces or teaspoons, it is essential to look at how these amounts relate to common measurements. 1 ounce is approximately 28,350 mg, so even a small portion of an ounce could represent a dose that falls within the lethal range for category II pesticides. Therefore, the range of 1 teaspoon (roughly 5 grams or 5,000 mg) to 1 ounce aligns with the understanding that even a relatively small ingestion could be harmful or potentially lethal. This makes the selection valid, as it encompasses the lower end of the lethal threshold for this category of pesticide. The other choices present quantities that either exceed or do not sufficiently meet the lethal dose criteria associated with category II