Pesticide Safety Update

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Pesticide Safety Update

• Brian Jones
• Agronomy Extension Agent
• February 2, 2009

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SAFETY FIRST?
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Outline

• Restricted use pesticides
• Label comprehension
• Risk management
• Personal protective equipment

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Pesticide Classification

• Restricted Use

• General Use

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Restricted Use Pesticides

• For use only by certified applicators or by
  persons under the direct supervision of a
  certified applicator.
• Designates products that could pose
• acute toxicity threat to humans wildlife
• ground water contamination concern
• threat to aquatic organisms

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Pesticide Applicator Classification

• Private

• Commercial

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What Can Certified Applicators Do?

• Private Applicators
• Apply Restricted Use on own property for crop
  production
• Registered Technicians
• Apply general use pesticides
• Apply Restricted Use pesticides under direct
  supervision of a Commercial Applicator
• Commercial Applicators
• Apply Restricted Use pesticides in that category

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Questions?
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What are Your Responsibilities?

• READ AND OBEY THE LABEL
• Understand what your certification allows
• Keep records of RUP applications or sales
• Report incidents to OPS in 48 hours
• Keep OPS informed of your address and employer
  changes, and Read Your Mail!

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The Label is the LAW!

• The pesticide product label is a binding legal
  agreement between three parties
• US Environmental Protection Agency,
• product registrant, and
• product user.

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What is the labeling?

• Instructions and directions located on the
  product.
• Other instructions and directions that accompany
  the product.
• Specialized instructions and directions in
  separate documents referred to on the label.

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Label Information
Brand Name
Active Ingredients
Inert Ingredients
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Label Information
Its critical that applicators understand and
follow these statements!
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Label Information
Manufacturers Address
EPA Registration Number
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Signal Words
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Signal Words
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QUESTIONS?
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Hazard Toxicity x Exposure

• Exposure
• Dose
• Route
• Duration
• Frequency

• Toxicity
• Capacity to cause harm
• Nature of the chemical
• Dose-related

Hazard Risk
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RISKY BUSINESS?
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Making Pesticide Decisions

• Goal is to balance
• Lowest toxicity
• Lowest exposure
• Most effective pest management

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Toxic Effects May Occur
After repeated exposure over a long time
During or soon after exposure
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CHRONIC
ACUTE
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Toxicity Measure LD50

• The LD50 is the dose of toxin that produces 50
  mortality in a test population.
• LD50 is usually expressed in milligrams of toxin
  per kilogram of test animal body weight (mg/kg).
• the lower the LD50 value, the more toxic the
  substance
• the higher the LD50 value, the less toxic the
  substance

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Acute Toxicity Ratings
Signal Word How Toxic Oral LD50 (mg/kg) Lethal Dose (Adult)
Danger Poison ? Highly 0 - 50 Few drops to 1 tsp
Warning Moderately 50 - 500 1 2 tsp
Caution Slightly 500 - 5000 1 oz 1 pt
Caution Almost non-toxic gt 5000 1 pt
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Relative Toxicity, rat oral LD50, mg/kg
Least toxic
Alcohol 14,000 Glyphosate (Roundup)
5,600 Salt (sodium chloride)
3,000 Malathion 1,375 Acephate (Orthene)
945 Aspirin 750 Ammonia
350 Diazinon 300 Nicotine
50 Aldicarb (Temik) 0.93 Copper chelate
0.50 Botulinum toxin 0.00001
Caution
Warning
Danger Poison
Most toxic
The dose makes the poison
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QUESTIONS?
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To Minimize Pesticide Exposure

• Use integrated pest management (IPM) techniques
  to minimize pesticide use.
• Select the safest, effective formulation.
• Use a product with reduced concentration of
  active ingredient.
• Reduce rate of application to lowest effective
  level.
• Mix only enough pesticide to complete assigned
  task.

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To Minimize Pesticide Exposure

• Select an application method that minimizes
  contact.
• Wear all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  stipulated on the label
• Mixing pesticides usually requires more PPE than
  applying.
• Follow all safety precautions
  on the label.

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• The label is very specific about the PPE required
  for mixing/loading, application, and early entry.
• Label lists PPE minimums. Can wear more.
• Applicator is legally required to follow all PPE
  instructions on label.
• Long-sleeve shirt, long pants, waterproof gloves,
  and shoes and socks are the minimum PPE found on
  any agricultural pesticide.

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PPE Eye Protection
Goggles or face shield are required if
label calls for eye protection. Face shield
offers more protection when mixing and loading.
A chemical resistant hat is sometimes specified
on the label.
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PPE Respirators

• Reduces exposure to various dusts and mists.
• Label will specify type of respirator.

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PPE Respirators

• Must be made for the pesticide - see the label.
• Make sure it fits correctly - no air gaps
• Change cartridge frequently
• See manufacturers instructions
• If not available, after 8 hours of use
• Sooner if notice odor, etc.
• Wash with soap and water after use
• Store in plastic bag after washing

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PPE Coveralls

• Coveralls can be reusable types (cotton or
  blends) or disposable types such as Tyvek? or
  Kleenguard?.
• The label will specify if chemical resistant
  coveralls (coated/ waterproof material) are
  needed.

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Gloves

• Waterproof or chemical resistant
• Read the label to determine correct type
• Never wear cotton, leather, or canvas
• Wear under cuff, unless spraying overhead

Natural Rubber
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PPE Gloves
Butyl Rubber
Barrier laminate

• If the label says waterproof, you may choose
  gloves made of rubber or synthetic materials.
• If the label says chemical resistant, use
  barrier laminate, butyl, nitrile, neoprene, or
  Viton ().

Viton
Nitrile Rubber
Neoprene
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PPE Boots

• Choose knee-high rubber or synthetic boots
  without holes
• Wear cuff on outside of boot
• Never wear leather

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Cleaning Contaminated Clothing

• Wash contaminated clothing daily.
• Do not attempt to clean clothing contaminated
  with undiluted pesticide - throw away.
• Prerinse, dont crowd washer, use hot water
• Use long cycle heavy duty liquid detergent
• Keep separate from other clothing

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?
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QUESTIONS?

• Thank You!