Wyoming Pesticide Applicator Certification Practice Test

How does the half-life of a pesticide impact its persistence in the environment?

1. A shorter half-life increases persistence

2. A longer half-life decreases persistence

3. A shorter half-life reduces persistence

4. A longer half-life increases persistence

The correct answer is: A longer half-life increases persistence

A longer half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the initial amount of a substance to break down or decay. In the context of pesticides, this means that a longer half-life would result in a slower rate of breakdown and therefore, the pesticide would persist in the environment for a longer period of time. On the other hand, a shorter half-life would result in a faster breakdown of the pesticide, reducing its presence in the environment, and therefore reducing its persistence. Option A is incorrect because a shorter half-life would decrease the persistence of the pesticide, not increase it. Option B is incorrect because a longer half-life would actually increase the persistence of the pesticide, not decrease it. Option C is incorrect because a shorter half-life would have a reducing effect on the persistence of the pesticide, not a reducing effect.