HEALTH HAZARDPESTICIDES 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

• 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

DangerDanger is taste to 50 mg/kg

Warning Warning is 50-500 mg/kg

Caution Caution is > 500 mg/kg

Exposure: Signal Words

Ag Pesticide Exposure

• Chemical exposure can occur in four ways:– 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:

– 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:– 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: – 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

• 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

• 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”

• 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

• 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.

• 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: jepsen.4@osu.edu

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 2012-46100-20144.