List of Wetting Agents Used in Fertilizers & Pesticides

Chemical Action

• Wetting agent adjuvant formulas are too numerous to list individually. Wetting agent adjuvants in fertilizers and pesticides force the penetration of their chemical compounds into the surface of soil, plants or wildlife. "Adjuvants are not under the same guidelines for registration as are pesticides. Anyone can mix up a nonpesticidal concoction, give it a name, and sell it as an adjuvant," says plant scientist Barry J. Brecke of the University of Florida. The surfactant PFOS has been banned by both the EPA and the Stockholm Convention as a toxic pollutant. Not all wetting agent chemical formulas have been tested to determine their toxicity.

Toxicity

• Adjuvants in the pesticide Roundup are toxic in synergetic effect with its active ingredient, glysophate, according to studies at the University of France at Caen. The active ingredients in fertilizers and pesticides are subject to toxicity testing, but the EPA does not stringently regulate adjuvants. Manufacturers of soil additives, weed killers and lawn care materials are not required by law to reveal the chemicals used to create ease of application and penetration of their products. Home gardeners must rely on manufacturer's claims for the safety of these chemical compounds.

Nonionic Surfactants

• Wetting agents in fertilizers and pesticides are nonionic surfactants. They affect the behavior of the pesticide formula in its action on plants. They are commonly diluted with water, alcohol or glycols to cause the pesticide to form a large, thin layer on the target plant. Molecules are stretched and thinned, abandoning their tendency to bond together. An opening in the plant is created for the pesticide to enter.

Micelles

• A wetting agent causes liquid to create particles called micelles. They are made up of molecules that attract water and molecules that repel water. They cause soil to overcome its resistance to liquid penetration, and plant leaves, stems and flowers to open and allow in the pesticide or fertilizer. Fertilizers are considered pesticides when they contain weed killers, according to the University of California at Davis Integrated Pest Management program.