Pesticide Safety Protecting Yourself

Pesticides Insecticides Herbicides Fungicides

Pesticide Injuries

Injuries – Mixing and Loading 60% of injuries Application makes up less than ½ (38%) Over ½ (57%) of injuries are systemic. About 25% are eye injuries

Toxicity of Pesticides Toxicity – capability of a substance to cause injury or death. How poisonous it is!

Risk? Hazard = Toxicity x Exposure

What is a Formulation How a pesticide is packaged. Contains: –Active Ingredient –Inert Ingredient

Types of formulations Wet –More easily absorbed Dry –More easily inhaled

Liquid Formulations EC –emulsifiable concentrate S - soluble ULV – ultra low volume F or FL - flowables ME – micro-encapsulated

Dry Formulations WP – Wettable powder DF – Dry Flowable WDG – Water Dispersable Granule D - Dust P or G – Pellets or Granules M or ME – Micro-Encapsulated

Capture 2 EC

Counter 15G

Benlate SP

Effects of Different Formulations FormulationHazardsPhytoxEquipment AgitateCompatible WPInhaleSafeabrasiveYesHigh DF/WDGSafe abrasiveYesGood SPDustsSafeNon-abrasiveSomeFair ECDermalMaybeSeals, gasketsNoFair F or FLDermalMaybeabrasiveYesFair SDermalSafeNon-abrasiveNoFair DInhaleSafeNA G or PInhaleSafeNA M or MEDermalSafeGenerally okYesFair

Routes of Exposure

Rates of Absorption

Acute and Chronic Toxicity Acute Exposure Immediate effects of a single, short term dose. All routes are considered during testing..dermal, oral, eye and inhalation

Measuring Toxicity – LD 50

Some Common Oral LD 50 Values Aldicarb (Temik) (I) – Ethyl parathion (I) Carbofuran (Furadan)(I) Methyl parathion (I) – Caffeine ,4-D (H) Table Salt Permethrin (Ambush) (I) Imathamethabenz-methyl (Assert) (H)-->5000 Glyphosate (Roundup)(H) Picloram (Tordon)(H) Captan (F)

Signal Words Danger-Poison (I) Danger (I) Warning (II) Caution (III) Caution (IV)

…..Signal Words…... Indicate the relative toxicity of a pesticide

Chronic Toxicity The delayed effects of repeated exposures over a long period of time. Effects evaluated in the lab include –Potential tumors –Birth defects –Reproductive effects

Material Safety Data Sheets Provide details on both acute and chronic exposures. Provides basis for protective gear (PPE)

Other Label Information Agricultural Use Requirements REI’s

Pesticide Poisoning

Protecting your Bod! Skin Eyes Ingestion Inhalation

Coveralls For Toxicity Class III or IV – Cotton (tight weave), Kleenguard® coveralls For Toxicity Class (II) – Possibly cotton, Tyvek. For Toxicty Class I – PVC, Nitrile, Tychem®, sealed or serged seams.

Woven Materials Laminated vs. Woven

PVC Polyethylene coated Tyvek

Gloves Want unlined gloves! Do Not Wear Leather Gloves! Do Not Wear exam gloves! Check for holes often! Want 14 mils or higher!

Glove Material Nitrile – Good overall protection, $2.39/pr Neoprene – Softer, better dexterity - $5.16 Natural Rubber – Use only on dry or water based formulations - $ /pr Butyl – For High Toxicity Pesticides - $18.45 PVC – Anyhydrous ammonia - $4.00/pr Viton – Superior Protection but $174.50/pr

Glove Material Classification A---Any dry or water based pesticide formulation. B---Any pesticide with acetate as the carrier solvent. C---Any pesticide with alcohol as the carrier solvent. Example - Comite® D---Any pesticide with halogenated hydrocarbons as the carrier. E---Any pesticide with ketones (such as acetone) as the carrier solvent. Example - Poast Plus®, Weedone 638®, 2,4-D LV 6 Ester® F---Any pesticide with ketone and aromatic petroleum distillate mixtures as the carrier solvent. Example - Di-syston 8® G---Any pesticide with aliphatic petroleum distillates ( such as kerosene, petroleum oil or mineral oil as the carrier solvent. Example - Guthion 2L® H---Any pesticide that has aromatic petroleum distillates (such as xylene) as the carrier solvent.

Gloves

Protecting Your Head Straw Hat? No. Ball Cap? No..No Yes!

Eye Protection Goggles Face Shields Safety Glasses But never wear contacts when spraying pesticides!!!

RespiratorsRespirators

Heat Stress While Spraying Pesticides Pesticide users are at higher risk… –More clothing –Toxic environments –Other stress factors Hard work More exposed to sun Difficult to drink water

Heat Exhaustion Overheating of the body due to excessive loss of water or, in rare cases, salt depletion. Symptoms include: –thirst, headache –Pallor –Dizziness –possibly nausea or vomiting. – In severe cases, your heart may race and you may feel disoriented.

Heat Stroke Body's thermoregulatory system stops working. Many of the symptoms are the same as for heat exhaustion. But there are additional symptoms –cessation of sweating –difficulty walking –disorientation and fainting or; –unconsciousness

Heat Stroke can permanently damage your health If you get heatstroke once, you may be likely to get it again.

First Aid For Heat Exhaustion Stop what you are doing and get out of the sun- preferably into an air-conditioned building. Drink water or, better still, a sports beverage, taking it slowly rather than gulping it down. If you don't feel better within 30 minutes, go to a hospital emergency room. Heat Stroke is generally not fatal but heat stroke can be!!

First Aid For Heat Stroke Key symptom to look for is disorientation. A person who is functioning well mentally isn't in danger. Someone who's becoming "jelly brained“ is in trouble. Pack ice around the patient’s neck, armpit and groin. Splash water on the skin, and fan them. Elevate the legs. If the person is conscious, give plenty of fluids--1 to 2 quarts--preferably a sports beverage, but water's fine. The person will probably be nauseated and may not want to drink anything, but fluids are essential.

Preventing Heat Injuries Drink water (1 quart per hour when hot!) Eat to replace electrolytes Rest breaks! Acclimatize! Watch for low humidity. You may not appear to be sweating but it is evaporating. You become less cautious

Heat Injuries Look Like Pesticide Injuries Sweating Headache Fatigue Dry Membranes Dry Mouth No tears or spit Fast pulse Dilated pupils Confusion Loss of coordination Sweating Headache Fatigue Moist Membranes Salivation, spit, tears Slow pulse Pinpoint Pupils Confusion Loss of coordination Heat InjuriesPesticide Injuries

Be Safe