What is vapor drift?

Vapor drift refers to the movement of pesticide that has vaporized into gas form. This phenomenon can occur when pesticides are applied, particularly during certain environmental conditions that facilitate evaporation. When pesticides evaporate, they can be carried away by air currents, potentially affecting areas not intended for treatment. Understanding vapor drift is crucial for ensuring effective pesticide application while minimizing unintended exposure to non-target areas, such as residential zones or ecological sensitive areas.

The other options do not accurately describe vapor drift: the immediate movement of pesticide droplets focuses on liquid application, solid movement pertains to granules or dry formulations, and the residual movement of pesticide in soil relates to how pesticides persist and move within the soil but does not address the gaseous phase. Therefore, the correct interpretation of vapor drift is its association with pesticides that have transitioned into vapor form and can travel through air.