Under pesticide law, a pesticide is defined as which of the following?

• A. Any substance used to regulate plant growth
• B. Any substance used to treat drinking water
• C. Any substance used to repel pests
• D. Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest

Answer: (D)

A pesticide, by law, is any substance or mixture intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. This broad definition covers not only substances that kill pests but also those that prevent or reduce pest problems, and it includes mixtures and formulations, not just pure chemicals. Because of that breadth, the description that includes preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest fits the statute exactly. The other uses described are narrower and do not by themselves define a pesticide, such as a substance used solely to regulate plant growth or to treat drinking water. A product used to repel pests is within the scope, but the full definition that includes all four actions provides the complete, legally recognized criterion.