Drift is the movement of a pesticide from the application site by ____________.

• A. evaporation
• B. runoff
• C. leaching
• D. wind or air currents

Answer: (D)

Pesticide drift is the airborne transport of spray droplets or vapors away from the treated area, driven by wind and air currents. This movement through the air is what pushes the chemical onto nearby non-target plants, people, or surfaces. Evaporation refers to a liquid turning into vapor at the application site but doesn’t by itself describe transport through the air. Runoff is water moving across the ground to a drain or body of water, and leaching is movement downward through the soil toward groundwater. Because drift specifically involves the chemical moving through the air after application, wind or air currents is the correct mechanism.