Which statement best describes non-point source pollution in relation to pesticides?

• A. The movement of pests into streams or groundwater after broadcast applications to large areas.
• B. A single accidental spill into a storm sewer.
• C. A deliberate leak at a storage site.
• D. Direct application into surface water.

Answer: (A)

Non-point source pollution from pesticides happens when residues move from large treated areas into streams or groundwater in a diffuse way, typically via runoff after rainfall or irrigation. There isn’t a single identifiable discharge; instead, many small losses from many locations combine to contaminate water bodies. The option describing pesticide moving from broadcast applications over broad areas into water bodies best captures this diffuse, landscape-wide pattern. The other scenarios involve a single identifiable source—an accidental spill into a storm sewer, a deliberate leak at storage, or applying pesticide directly into surface water—which are point sources and not the diffuse type described here.