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The herbicide will be sprayed across an area of less than five acres.
Spraying, which began this week and continues through June 30, is part of a research effort on the control of aquatic weeds by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
According to the company that produces Sonar SRP, SePRO in Carmel, Ind., the two ingredients that could threaten animals are fluridone and pyridinone.
These two ingredients could, in large doses, also be harmful humans. Potential health effects at large doses include eye irritation and respiratory difficulty.
Inhalation can irritate the upper respiratory tract including the nose and throat, and excessive inhalation of the substance could lead to long-term lung damage.
Anyone who inhales large doses of the herbicide should immediately be exposed to fresh air.
To avoid breathing the dust, people should wear a respiratory mask and wash their hands thoroughly after applying the herbicide.
If the chemical gets on skin, it is advised to wash immediately to avoid burns, absorption or irritation.
Fluridone in animals has been shown to cause liver and kidney damage and repeated exposure to the chemical may give animals a disabling disease of the lungs called "silicosis."
Manufacturers of the herbicide recommend following precautions carefully to avoid adverse effects. In order to avoid impact on threatened or endangered species, users of the product should not dump the chemical in the water or apply to any trees or shrubs growing in the water. Application to such plants could be harmful.
The herbicide in its liquid form is a dark gray color. It also comes in a dark brown pellet variety with a faint musty odor. Company representatives say that the substance is not flammable but if burned, can emit a toxic fume.
Swimming at Lake Quonnipaug will not be restricted while the herbicide is being applied.
Guilford Environmental Planner Leslie Kane was not available for comment.
Greg Bugbee of the Office of Soil and Water at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven was not available for comment.
