Buffer zones around application areas are used to prevent contamination of what?

• A. Water bodies and non-target areas
• B. The farmer's house
• C. The packaging area
• D. The pesticide's own mixing area

Answer: (A)

Buffer zones act as a safety margin around where pesticides are applied to keep drift and runoff from reaching places that shouldn’t be exposed. The primary purpose is to protect water bodies—lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds—from contamination, since pesticides can harm aquatic life and taint drinking water. They also shield non-target areas, meaning nearby habitats, crops, and properties that aren’t intended to receive the chemical, by giving space for any residues to dilute or settle before reaching those areas. While other spots like a worker’s home or the mixing/loading area are important, buffer zones are specifically about preventing movement of the pesticide from the application site into water bodies and other non-target areas.