22
Pesticides, Organic Contaminants, and Pathogens in Air
TABLE 2.2
Top 25 Pesticides Used in California in 2018, Ranked by Pounds Applied
Rank
Chemical
Pounds
1
Sulfur
48,571,279
2
Mineral oil
29,611,582
3
1,3-Dichloropropene
12,569,270
4
Potassium n-methyldithiocarbamate
8,527,736
5
Petroleum oil, unclassifed
7,734,445
6
Chloropicrin
7,436,425
7
Glyphosate, potassium salt
6,109,802
8
Glyphosate, isopropylamine salt
5,766,081
9
Calcium hydroxide
5,016,453
10
Metam-sodium
3,765,705
11
Kaolin
3,268,360
12
Sulfuryl fuoride
2,991,914
13
Alpha-(para-nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) a
2,529,936
14
Copper hydroxide
2,346,020
15
Pendimethalin
2,244,649
16
Methylated soybean oil a
2,177,919
17
Propanil
1,829,002
18
Copper sulfate (pentahydrate)
1,801,464
19
Lime-sulfur
1,701,224
20
Methyl bromide
1,682,989
21
Glufosinate-ammonium
1,595,020
22
Copper ethanolamine complexes, mixed
1,510,703
23
Petroleum distillates, refned
1,395,969
24
Mancozeb
1,315,141
25
Paraquat dichloride
1,301,935
Source: CDPR (2018).
a Oils are carriers for active ingredients and also pesticides themselves. Hydrocarbon mixtures
are also applied in agriculture as a component of dormant sprays on a variety of fruit and nut
orchard trees to kill overwintering insects and diseases, and as weed oils.
References
Boissoneault, L. (2018). How the death of 6,000 sheep spurred the American debate on chemical weapons. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-death-6000sheep-spurred-american-debate-chemical-weapons-cold-war-180968717/.
Boffey, P.M. (1968). Nerve gas: Dugway accident linked to Utah sheep kill. Science 162,
1460–1464.
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). (2018). The top 100 pesticides
by pounds in total statewide pesticide use in 2018 https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/
docs/pur/pur18rep/top_100_ais_lbs_2018.htm (Accessed February 3, 2021).
Pesticides, Organic Contaminants, and Pathogens in Air
TABLE 2.2
Top 25 Pesticides Used in California in 2018, Ranked by Pounds Applied
Rank
Chemical
Pounds
1
Sulfur
48,571,279
2
Mineral oil
29,611,582
3
1,3-Dichloropropene
12,569,270
4
Potassium n-methyldithiocarbamate
8,527,736
5
Petroleum oil, unclassifed
7,734,445
6
Chloropicrin
7,436,425
7
Glyphosate, potassium salt
6,109,802
8
Glyphosate, isopropylamine salt
5,766,081
9
Calcium hydroxide
5,016,453
10
Metam-sodium
3,765,705
11
Kaolin
3,268,360
12
Sulfuryl fuoride
2,991,914
13
Alpha-(para-nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) a
2,529,936
14
Copper hydroxide
2,346,020
15
Pendimethalin
2,244,649
16
Methylated soybean oil a
2,177,919
17
Propanil
1,829,002
18
Copper sulfate (pentahydrate)
1,801,464
19
Lime-sulfur
1,701,224
20
Methyl bromide
1,682,989
21
Glufosinate-ammonium
1,595,020
22
Copper ethanolamine complexes, mixed
1,510,703
23
Petroleum distillates, refned
1,395,969
24
Mancozeb
1,315,141
25
Paraquat dichloride
1,301,935
Source: CDPR (2018).
a Oils are carriers for active ingredients and also pesticides themselves. Hydrocarbon mixtures
are also applied in agriculture as a component of dormant sprays on a variety of fruit and nut
orchard trees to kill overwintering insects and diseases, and as weed oils.
References
Boissoneault, L. (2018). How the death of 6,000 sheep spurred the American debate on chemical weapons. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-death-6000sheep-spurred-american-debate-chemical-weapons-cold-war-180968717/.
Boffey, P.M. (1968). Nerve gas: Dugway accident linked to Utah sheep kill. Science 162,
1460–1464.
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). (2018). The top 100 pesticides
by pounds in total statewide pesticide use in 2018 https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/
docs/pur/pur18rep/top_100_ais_lbs_2018.htm (Accessed February 3, 2021).