Unit 6. Harmful Effects and Emergency Response

Question 1

When the Core Manual states that …
Hazard = Toxicity x Exposure
… what is it telling us?
1. That by wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), we do not need to be concerned with exposure to pesticides.
2. That the danger to the pesticide handler is proportional to the toxicity of the pesticide and the amount of contact with that pesticide.
3. That all pesticides are equally dangerous to the handler.
4. That we should read the pesticide label to find the signal word.
5. None of the above.

Answer 1

2. That the danger to the pesticide handler is proportional to the toxicity of the pesticide and the amount of contact with that pesticide.

In simple terms, if you are handling a highly toxic pesticide, you should be especially cautious to minimize exposure. While it is always necessary to limit exposure to pesticides, the most dangerous will likely cause the most harm to you. Likewise, even mildly toxic pesticides can be hazardous if we allow ourselves to be significantly exposed.

Question 2

Pesticide exposure occurs when a pesticide contacts a surface or an organism. For humans it means getting pesticides in or on the body.
What does the Core Manual list as the four (4) types of pesticide exposures?

Answer 2

• Oral exposure (swallowing a pesticide)
• Inhalation exposure (inhaling a pesticide).
• Ocular exposure (getting a pesticide in your eyes).
• Dermal exposure (getting a pesticide on your skin).

Question 3

Minimizing pesticide exposures will reduce the harmful effects from pesticides. How can we minimize exposure?
1. Work carefully to avoid accidents.
2. Use safety systems such as closed systems and enclosed cabs.
3. Choose product formulations and packaging that are easy to handle.
4. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Wash exposed areas often and keep PPE clean and in good operating condition.
5. All of the above.

Answer 3

5. All of the above.

Question 4

What is the most likely type of pesticide exposure?

Answer 4

Dermal exposure. Evidence indicates that 97% of all body exposure that happens during pesticide application is by skin contact.

Question 5

Evidence indicates that 97% of all body exposure that happens during pesticide application is by skin contact, however in some situations, inhalation is a greater hazard. Under what conditions could inhalation be a greater hazard than dermal contact?

Answer 5

When working in poorly-ventilated, confined space and using a fumigant or similar pesticide. These products are highly toxic when inhaled.

Question 6

The amount of pesticide that is absorbed through your skin and eyes is partly dependent upon the pesticide formulation. Put the following in order from most-readily absorbed to least-readily absorbed.
* Wettable powders (WP) and dry flowables (DF).
* Dusts (D) and granules (G).
* Emulsifiable concentrates (EC), oil-based liquid concentrates (LC), and oil-based diluents (ex. xylene).

Answer 6

In order, from most-easily absorbed through the skin and eyes to least-easily absorbed through the skin and eyes:
1. Emulsifiable concentrates (EC), oil-based liquid concentrates (LC), and oil-based diluents (ex. xylene).
2. Wettable powders (WP) and dry flowables (DF).
3. Dusts (D) and granules (G).

Question 7

Children are most likely to ingest (swallow) pesticides. What can you do to help prevent accidental ingestion of a pesticide?

Answer 7

1. Store pesticides properly in a locked cabinet.
2. Keep pesticides in their original labeled containers.
3. Clearly mark all secondary pesticide containers and measuring cups to prevent use of other purposes.
4. Never store pesticides in used food or beverage containers.

Question 8

“Minibulk” containers are tanks that are adapted to or designed as closed mixing and loading systems. What are their advantages?

Answer 8

• They can be attached to the sprayer without exposing the pesticide handler to the pesticide.
• They reduce pesticide waste.
• They do not need to be triple-rinsed or pressure-rinsed.
• They can be returned to the pesticide dealer for a deposit.

Question 9

A water-soluble bag is a premeasured pesticide contained in water-soluble packaging. They simplify mixing and loading operations that can lead to spills, measurement errors and expose the handler to toxic pestcides.

List two disadvantages of water-soluble packaging.

Answer 9

• If packaging becomes wet during shipment or storage, pesticide could be accidentally released.
• Risk of splashing if not carefully added to the mix tank.
• Not often available for small applications.
• Designed to treat only areas of specific size (ex. one bag per 10 acres) and you cannot use only half of a bag, for instance.

Question 10

An enclosed application system is a cab or cockpit that surrounds the pesticide applicator. They may have advanced filtration systems that prevent pesticide exposure as long as doors, hatches and windows remain shut.

Can you go without personal protective equipment (PPE) when applying pesticides in a closed application system?

Answer 10

No. Even though you are in a cab, you must wear all PPE specified on the pesticide label. Enclosed cabs are a supplement – not a replacement – for PPE.

Question 11

Toxicity is a measure of the ability of a pesticide to cause harmful effects. What do we call the measure of harm caused by a single pesticide dosage?

Answer 11

Acute toxicity

Question 12

Toxicity is a measure of the ability of a pesticide to cause harmful effects. What do we call the measure of harm caused by repeated, prolonged pesticide exposure?

Answer 12

Chronic toxicity

Question 13

A common method used to measure acute toxicity is LD₅₀. “LD” means “lethal dose.” LD₅₀ is the dose, by weight, that will kill 50% of a population of test lab animals.

Which pesticide is less acutely toxic: one with an LD₅₀ of 50 mg/kg or one with an LD₅₀ of 5,000 mg/kg?

Answer 13

The pesticide with an LD₅₀ of 5,000 mg/kg because it requires more pesticide (5,000 mg versus 50 mg) to kill the same number (50%) of a population of test lab animals.

The higher the LD₅₀ value, the less acutely toxic the chemical.

Question 14

Another common measure of acute toxicity is LC₅₀. “LC” means “lethal concentration” and it measures the amount of pesticide in the air or water. The LC₅₀ is used to assign the signal word printed on the pesticide label.

If a pesticide has the signal words DANGER–POISON with a skull and crossbone symbol, how toxic is it to people?

Answer 14

It is extremely toxic. According to the table on page 6-10 of the manual, a “trace to 0.2 mg/l” is enough to kill a person.

Question 15

Pesticides can cause three types of harmful effects:
* acute
* delayed
* allergic

What do we call effects that appear soon (within 24 hours) after exposure to a pesticide?

Answer 15

Acute effects

Question 16

What do we call effects that appear more than 24 hours after exposure to a pesticide?

Answer 16

Delayed effects

Question 17

Which of the following are types of acute effects?
1. Oral (ingestion).
2. Inhalation (respiratory).
3. Dermal (skin).
4. Ocular (eye).
5. All of the above.

Answer 17

5. All of the above.

Question 18

A pesticide applicator accidentally splashed some pesticide on her arm. A few hours later, her skin began to blister and change color. What type of effect did she experience?

Answer 18

An acute dermal effect. Because she splashed it on her skin, it is a dermal effect and because the injury happened within 24 hours of exposure, it is an acute effect.

Question 19

Which of the following can cause delayed effects?
1. Repeated exposures to a pesticide, a group of pesticides (ex. organophosphates), or a combination of pesticides over a long period.
2. A single exposure to a pesticide (or combination of pesticides) that causes a harmful reaction that does not appear until much later.

Answer 19

Delayed effects of pesticide exposure can be caused by either repeated exposures; or by a single exposure that may take days, months or even years to show effects.

Question 20

Name three (3) types of delayed effects.

Answer 20

1. Chronic effects. Illnesses or injuries that appear a long time – usually several years – after exposure to a pesticide (ex. cancer).
2. Developmental and reproductive effects. Injuries to or illnesses of a fetus in the womb of a woman who has been exposed to a pesticide (ex. miscarriage).
3. Systemic effects. Illnesses or injuries to a system in the body that appear more than 24 hours after exposure to a pesticide (ex. disorders of the blood, nervous system, brain, skin, lungs, liver and kidneys).

Question 21

What is the best thing that you can do to avoid delayed effects of pesticide exposure?

Answer 21

Reduce your exposure to all pesticides as much as possible.

Question 22

What do we call harmful effects to pesticide exposure that some people experience but do not cause the same reaction in others?

Answer 22

Allergic effects

Question 23

What are some typical allergic effects?

Answer 23

• systemic reactions such as asthma or shock.
• skin irritation such as rash, blisters or open sores.
• eye and nose irritations such as itchy, watery eyes and sneezing.

Question 24

We talk about “signs and symptoms” of harmful effects of pesticide exposure. What is the difference between these two?

Answer 24

1. Symptoms are effects that only the victim can notice – dizziness, cramping or headaches.
2. Signs are visible to others. Examples would be fainting, swelling, vomiting or blisters.

Question 25

Poisoning by some pesticide families produces distinctive signs that help diagnose the cause of the poisoning. Name some of these distinctive signs.

Answer 25

• Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning often causes very small (pinpoint) pupils in the victim’s eyes.
• Arsenic or phosphorus poisoning often causes a garlic odor on the victim’s breath.
• Anti-coagulant type rodenticides (ex. warfarin) cause bloody noses or bleeding of the gums.
• Some herbicides can cause vomiting, headaches and confusion.

Question 26

How do you respond to an emergency when someone has splashed pesticide on the skin?

Answer 26

1. Drench skin and contaminated clothing with plenty of clean water. Place the person in a pond, creek or stock tank, if necessary.
2. Remove PPE and contaminated clothing.
3. Wash skin and hair with mild liquid detergent and water. A shower is best.
4. Dry the victim and wrap in a blanket or any clean clothing at hand.
5. If the skin is burned or blistered, cover with clean, loose, dry soft cloth or bandage.
6. Do NOT apply ointments, greases, powders other medications.

Question 27

How do you respond to an emergency when someone has splashed pesticide in the eyes?

Answer 27

1. Wash the eye quickly but gently.
2. Use an eyewash dispenser, if available. Otherwise, hold the eyelid open and wash with a gentle drip of clean running water, positioned so that it runs across the eye and not directly into the eye.
3. Rinse for 15 minutes or more.
4. Do NOT add chemicals or medications to the rinse water.

Question 28

How do you respond to an emergency when someone has inhaled pesticide?

Answer 28

1. If necessary, immediately carry the victim to fresh air.
2. Warn others that might be in the area.
3. Loosen tight or restrictive clothing so that they can breathe freely.
4. Keep the victim warm and quiet.
5. Administer CPR (chest compressions) if breathing has stopped and you cannot detect a pulse. If there is a pulse, begin rescue breathing (artificial respiration).

Question 29

How do you respond to an emergency when someone has swallowed or splashed pesticide in the mouth?

Answer 29

1. Rinse the mouth with plenty of water.
2. Give the victim large amounts of milk or water (up to 1 quart).
3. Induce vomiting ONLY if the pesticide label instructs you to do so.
4. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING WHEN …
   * the victim is unconcious or having convulsions.
   * if the victim has swallowed a corrosive poison such as a strong acid or alkali.
   * if the victim has swallowed an emulsifiable concentrate (EC).

Question 30

What are common signs and symptoms of heat stress?

Answer 30

• Fatigue (exhaustion or muscle weakness).
• headache, nausea and chills.
• dizziness or fainting.
• severe thirst and dry mouth.
• clammy skin or hot, dry skin.
• heavy sweating or complete lack of heavy sweating.
• confusion, difficulty talking, acting oddly or being quarrelsome.

Question 31

What things can you do to avoid heat stress?

Answer 31

1. Use fans and ventilation systems; provide shade when possible.
2. Add time to adjust to heat factors and workload.
3. Schedule frequent breaks and assign the most difficult tasks during the coolest part of the day.
4. Choose PPE designed to be as cool as possible.
5. Drink plenty of water or sports drinks.

Question 32

If you find your worker passed out and you are not sure whether it is caused by pesticide poisoning or heat stress, what do you do?

Answer 32

1. Call for medical help right away.
2. While you are waiting, get the person to a cooler place away from pestcides.
3. Remove PPE or other clothing that could be contaminating the skin or making the person hot.
4. Clean and cool the skin with water and give the person plenty of water to drink.
5. Keep the victim quiet.