Risks involved with the use of soil sterilants include:

The correct answer highlights a significant concern associated with the use of soil sterilants: the potential for pesticide movement off-site, particularly into groundwater. Soil sterilants are designed to eliminate all plant life in the treated area. However, their chemical properties can result in them leaching through the soil and contaminating water sources, which poses environmental and health risks. This is especially crucial in regions where groundwater is a drinking water source.

While other concerns, such as damage to nearby trees with extensive root systems and the toxicological effects of all soil sterilants on mammals, are valid considerations, they do not encapsulate the breadth of the risks associated with these substances as comprehensively as the potential for groundwater contamination. This is because the movement of pesticides into water systems can have widespread implications for both ecosystems and human safety. Therefore, recognizing groundwater contamination as a key risk ensures an understanding of the broader environmental impact of using soil sterilants in vegetation management.