Transcript What are Pesticides? - Agricultural Safety and Health Program

HEALTH HAZARD
PESTICIDES AND CHEMICALS ON THE FARM
Learning Objectives
• Understand pesticides
• Identify common farmstead chemicals
• Determine the difference between chronic & acute
toxicity
• Discuss exposure routes of chemicals
• Identify Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Examine signs of pesticide poisoning
• Look at first aid treatment
• Recognize proper storage and disposal practices
What are Pesticides?
• Pesticides are designed to kill or control living
organisms
• Pesticides can also harm or kill people
• Pesticides vary in toxicity to man from very mild to
extremely toxic
• Important to
– Have knowledge of the relative toxicity
– Understand how pesticide exposure occurs
Farmstead Chemicals
• Dairy farm:
– Work involves using cleansers and sanitizers.
– Acid rinses, alkaline compounds, chlorine, and iodine
materials are commonly found on farms.
– These can damage skin and produce toxic fumes.
Farmstead Chemicals
• Livestock center:
– Work parallels the work of the dairy industry.
– Animal medications mixed into the animals drinking water
are used.
– Foot bath chemicals are mixed to treat foot health
problems.
Farmstead Chemicals
• Field crops:
– Work with pesticide application.
– Hauling fertilizer and lime is a dusty chore.
– Those particulates can create respiratory health risks and
skin irritations.
Anhydrous Ammonia
• Anhydrous ammonia is a
powerful source of nitrogen
containing 82% nitrogen.
• Nitrogen solutions are
caustic.
• Caustic chemicals can
burn plant and human
tissues.
• Stored under pressure
Farmstead Chemicals
• Farm equipment:
– Farm equipment becomes greasy and dirt-covered.
– Degreasers and solvents may be needed to clean the
parts.
– Hydro sulfuric acid will be encountered while servicing a
battery
– Fuels, oils, and antifreeze can also be hazardous if used
incorrectly.
Chronic & Acute Toxicity
• Chronic Toxicity
– Long term
• Acute Toxicity
– Immediate
– Within 24 hours
Chronic Effects
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Carcinogenicity-cancer
Mutagenicity-genetic changes
Teratogenicity- birth defects
Oncogenicity-tumor growth (not necessarily cancers)
Liver damage
Reproductive disorders-sperm count, sterility,
miscarriage
• Nerve damage
• Allergenic sensitization
Acute Effects
• Immediate “poisoning” or harm
• Based on LD50 values (“Lethal Dose”)
• Most sensitive route determines the Signal Word
Exposure: Signal Words
Danger
Danger is taste to 50 mg/kg
Warning
Warning is 50-500 mg/kg
Caution
Caution is > 500 mg/kg
Ag Pesticide Exposure
• Chemical exposure can occur in four ways:
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Oral (mouth)
Dermal (skin)
Inhalation (lungs)
Ocular (eyes)
• Exposure to agricultural chemicals can be
minimized by wearing personal protective
equipment (PPE).
Exposure: Dermal
• The majority of all pesticide exposures are dermal
• Can occur from:
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wearing inadequate personal protective equipment
not washing hands
splashing or spraying pesticides on unprotected skin;
wearing pesticide-contaminated clothing (including PPE)
applying pesticides in windy weather
touching pesticide-treated surfaces
Exposure: Eye
• Common when:
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Mixing pesticides
Whenever the potential for splashing exists
Applying pesticides in windy weather
Rubbing eyes or forehead with contaminated gloves or
hands
Exposure: Inhalation
• Typically occurs:
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When using fine dusts and mists
Breathing vapors, dust, or mist
Mixing and loading concentrates while handling pesticides
Drift
Re-entering an area too soon
Lung exposure is the fastest way to the bloodstream
Exposure: Oral
• Ingestion through the mouth
– Not washing hands before eating, or drinking
– Putting contaminated items and hands in or near mouth such as food or cigarettes
– Splashing into mouth through carelessness or accident
Signs of Pesticide Poisoning
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Skin rash
Swelling or burns
Nausea, vomiting
Diarrhea, stomach cramps
Headache, dizziness
Excessive sweating, chills
Chest pains
Difficulty breathing
Muscle cramps or aches
First Aid
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Remove victim from pesticide
Keep yourself safe
Seek immediate medical help
Check label for information
Take label to doctor
Personal Protective Equipment
• For an effective protective barrier:
– Choose the correct PPE
– Clean and maintain it correctly
– Use it correctly
Pesticide Storage
• Separate building or cabinet
• Well identified with signs
• Post the storage area
appropriately to deter
accidental exposure.
Example:
• “Danger--Pesticides--Keep Out”
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Also post “No Smoking” signs
and do not allow smoking
near the storage area.
Storage Areas
• Have no drain, or drain is plugged
• Store away from food, feed, seed and fertilizer
• This is Ohio Pesticide Law
• Storage areas should have:
– Non-porous flooring & shelving
– Supplies for spill management
– Safety equipment
Pesticide Containers
• Keep pesticides in original container
• Keep label firmly attached
• Check for damaged containers
Storage Practices
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Liquids stored beneath dry products
Separate areas for herbicides & insecticides
Moisture controls
Temperature controls
Disposal
• As an applicator you have two disposal problems:
– You must safely dispose of surplus pesticides concentrated or
tank mixed that you have no use for or cannot store.
– You must safely dispose of empty pesticide containers.
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Never give empty containers away for any purpose
Triple rinse containers
Don’t reuse containers for something else
Dispose of properly
Burning: check the label
Burial: NO!
Summary
• Variety of pesticides and chemicals on the farm
• Exposure Types: Dermal, Inhalation, Eye, Oral
• Properly store pesticides in a separate area with
signs to indicate what is being stored there
• Environmental concerns include the effect wind
and weather conditions have while using
pesticides
For More Information
OSU Ag Safety & Health
The Ohio State University
Ag Engineering Building
590 Woody Hayes Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1057
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-292-6008
Website: agsafety.osu.edu
This project was supported by the
USDA’s National Institute of Food
and Agriculture (NIFA) Rural
Health and Safety Education Grant
Program- grant number 201246100-20144.