Disastrous events of the past have caused the use of pesticides and other man-made chemicals to become a source of anxiety for the uninformed public. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has responded to previous mistakes by developing a program that requires stringent testing and strict regulation of herbicides and other pesticides prior to their commercial release for use in the environment.

We all want to know what chemicals we are buying and using, and we want to know their relative toxicity so we can know if these chemicals are dangerous or benign. EPA testing and registration enables the public to better understand the nature of the chemical being used and, by federal law, establishes minimum safety standards that safeguard public and environmental health.

Herbicide testing and registration is paid for by the chemical manufacturer and the studies are intended to determine:

1. which plants are affected by the chemical
2. environmental conditions the chemical must be applied in (i.e., sunny, cloudy, etc.)
3. proper methods of application for the chemical
4. relative toxicity to certain test plants and animals
5. rate that the chemical breaks down and its longevity (persistence) in the soil or water
6. presentation of the chemical's "use-label"

After EPA approval, the herbicide must also be registered with each state government. State registration may require additional testing for specific environmental or agricultural conditions. Registration in Florida is regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

REGISTERING AQUATIC HERBICIDES
Aquatic herbicides are a class of herbicides used to manage various aquatic weeds. Other states may require no additional testing or may not regulate herbicide use in aquatic situations at all. No matter the level of state regulation, federal law mandates that any herbicides used in, on, or over water must have an aquatic registration. Aquatic registration requires additional EPA testing. This is because aquatic herbicides are more prone to spread (via water flow) and can result in wider exposure to people and the environment.

Aquatic registration also takes special interest in the chemical's tolerance in fish and other aquatic species. Tolerance levels are determined through a series of tests that enables researchers to determine "no observable effect" levels in animal diets and quantification of residues in fish and water.

Acceptable toxicity level is defined as the level of pesticide present in fish or water in which a lifetime of human consumption is not likely to cause adverse health effects in humans.