What is the term for the movement of a pesticide by air to areas other than the intended target areas of application?

The term that describes the movement of a pesticide by air to areas other than the intended target areas of application is referred to as drift. This phenomenon occurs when pesticides are carried away from the application site by wind or other airborne forces, potentially impacting non-target areas, including neighboring fields, gardens, or natural habitats. Understanding drift is crucial for proper pesticide application to minimize unintended consequences on the environment and surrounding ecosystems.

Pollution is a broader term that encompasses various forms of contamination, but it does not specifically refer to the air movement of pesticides. Leaching deals with the downward movement of chemicals through the soil, particularly into groundwater, rather than air movement. Runoff refers to the movement of water, along with any dissolved or suspended substances, from the surface of the land, typically after rain or irrigation, and is not specifically related to airborne pesticide movement. Thus, drift is the precise term to describe this particular issue in pesticide application.