Transcript Safe Mixing of Pesticides

Safe Mixing of
Pesticides
Reeves Petroff
Pesticide Education & Safety Program
Montana State University Cooperative
Extension Service
General and Restricted Use Pesticides
GENERAL-USE PESTICIDES
• Less likely to harm the user or the environment when
used according label instructions.
• No certification required!
• 2,4-D, Banvel , Clarity , Weed Master , Escort ,
Curtail .
RESTRICTED-USE PESTICIDES (RUP)
• Can harm the environment
used as directed.
or
the
applicator
when
not
• Certification Required
• Tordon 22K, Hoelon 3EC, Furadan, Warrior, Phostoxin
Mustang 
WHAT’S A FORMULATION?
How the pesticide is
packaged.
One pesticide = many forms.
COMMON EXAMPLE
POWDERED - DRY
SOAP
BATH GEL
LIQUID
A PESTICIDE FORMULATION IS MADE UP OF
ONE OR MORE CHEMICALS:
Active Ingredients – a.i.
Part of the formulation that kills the pest
Active Ingredient
Tordon 22K
Inert Ingredients
Make the formulation
easier to handle or store.
Inert Ingredient
Examples: talc and clay for dry formulations.
Alcohols, solvents and antifreeze for liquid
formulations
DRY
FORMULATIONS
•
•
•
•
WP – Wettable powder
P or G – Pellets or Granule
D – Dusts
DF – Dry Flowable
• WSB or WSP – Water Dispersable Bag or
Water Soluble Packet
• WDG – Water Dispersable Granule
Dry Formulations
• Inhalation hazard.
• Abrasive to equipment.
• Usually need to premix in water first.
G and P formulations?
• Easier on non-target, non-crop plants
• Easier to store
COMMONLY USED LIQUID
FORMULATIONS
• EC –emulsifiable concentrate
• S - soluble
EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC)
Liquid formulation containing: the active
ingredient, one or more solvents and an
emulsifier to aid in mixing with water.
Examples:
2,4-D ester
Curtail M ,
Treflan EC 
Fargo EC .
EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC)
ADVANTAGES
 Little agitation required. Won’t settle out when equipment is
turned off.
 Relatively non-abrasive.
 Easy to handle, store and transport
DISADVANTAGES
 Hard on non-target plants and animals.
 Easily absorbed through skin of plants & humans.
 Rubber or plastic hoses & gaskets may deteriorate.
SOLUBLE (S)
A liquid formulation in which the active
ingredient readily dissolves in water. Consists
of the active ingredient and additives.
Examples
Tordon 22K 
Krenite S 
Roundup 
Many 2,4-D products
Liquids
& MIXING
HOW can you
limit 90% of your
exposure?
Other Considerations for Liquid
Formulations
More inert ingredients may damage
non-target plants, insects or
animals.
-- Storage considerations -Containers may leak.
Formulations may freeze
Most pesticide accidents occur during Mixing!
?
Perceived Less Risk
Don’t wear PPE
Concentrated
Instability
Attitude
First Step
Before
Have detergent or soap &
an adequate supply of water available.
Before
Know the early symptoms of poisoning
First aid procedures
First aid materials and supplies available.
Be certain that materials are available
to handle spills.
Check Equipment!!
Checklist.
A daily inspection.
Hoses
Fittings
Valves
Tanks
PMCS
Do not work alone or be sure
help is readily available.
•DANGER
Signal Words!
•DANGER-Poison
•WARNING
•CAUTION
PPE?
Respirators? Proper fit? Correct
canister or cartridge?
Never eat, drink, smoke, or go the
bathroom while working with pesticides,
without first washing your hands.
Pesticide containers should be in a secure position when open.
During
Make sure the proper personal protective
equipment
(PPE) is worn by all personnel involved.
Wear More PPE!!
Follow Label Mixing
Instructions
Pesticide
During
into water
More face
protection
Head above
and away
No Higher
than chest
Wind
Use Nurse Tanks and ….
During
Never leave tanks unattended
PPE
Signal Words
Use Classification
Precautions
A.I.
Formulation
First Aid
After
Triple
Rinsing
When container is empty…
1. Let drain into tank for 30 seconds
2. Fill 1/3 to 1/4 full of water
3. Replace cap
4. Rotate container
5. Let drain into tank for 30 seconds
6. Repeat steps 2-5 two more times
Then…
Destroy the Container
In
Montana…
• Pesticide containers….
– Must be triple-rinsed within 48 hours
– Not accepted at landfills unless triplerinsed
– Cannot be burned!
– Cannot be used for uses other than
pesticides
– Can be buried on private property if
tripled-rinsed
Transportation
Handling
Pesticide Spills
--Storage-Pump House
Dirt Floor
Transportation
Not in Here!
• Secure containers
• Secondary Containment
Here!
Pesticide Spills
• Stop the leak! Wear PPE
• Keep people away
• Confine the spill
•Absorb the spilled pesticides
•Collect the absorbed pesticides
•Cover the area with neutralizer
Pesticide Spills
Stop the leak!
Clamp it!
Rotate it!
Seal it!
Patch it!
• Keep people away
• Confine the spill
• Absorb the spilled pesticides
DISPOSAL?
Apply to a labeled site
> 5 gallons – Montana Dept. of Ag
GLOVES
CATCH BASINS
CALIBRATE
MIX CORRECTLY