"It is not my contention that chemicals never be used. I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals in the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potential harm" (Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1964)
Pesticide Poisonings: Perspective is Reality Cecil Tharp MSU Pesticide Education Specialist
Pesticide Poisoning is common in Montana.
31% of private applicators surveyed have been at least mildly poisoned by exposure to pesticides. Always minimize bad habits while wearing recommended PPE to minimize exposure.
Are Montana applicators protecting themselves from Pesticides? Do you wear PPE that is required on the product label while applying pesticides? Wear required PPE while applying pesticides
11%
42% Do not wear required PPE while applying pesticides
47%
While applying pesticides, did not know what was on the product label
Why are they not protecting themselves? ‘practical reasons’
Applicators Focus on Acute Toxicity Toxicity
which occurs within seconds, minutes or hours. Applicators focus on acute toxicity and corresponding signal words..
Signal Words / LD50 Table 2. Signal words found on pesticide labels.
Caution (Category IV) You can drink the stuff
Does ‘Caution’ indicate PPE is not needed? Often
disregarding PPE statements on pesticides which show low acute toxicity
Signal Word
PPE
Bad Habits also lead to Pesticide Poisoning 1/5 applicators surveyed smoked or chewed during application of pesticides in Montana. Chewing and smoking while applying pesticides increases exposure to pesticides and may result in pesticide poisoning.
Have you smoked or taken a pinch of chew during a pesticide application? 20%
Yes No 80%
Bad Habits also lead to Pesticide Poisoning Alarmingly, 25% of applicators surveyed ingested food while applying pesticides without washing hands prior! This increases exposure dramatically and may be extremely dangerous. This may lead to acute or chronic pesticide poisoning.
Have you eaten during the mixing or application of pesticides? 25% Yes No 75%
More bad habits….
70% of all applicators surveyed removed gloves at some point in their career while repairing spray equipment. 9% never wore gloves to begin with.
Did you remove gloves while repairing equipment? 9%
2%
19%
70% Removed gloves while repairing equipment. Wore gloves while repairing equipment. Never wore gloves to begin with. Gloves were not recommended on the product label.
Montana Poisonings: Why?
Bad Habits – Eating while applying pesticides (25%) – Chewing and smoking while applying pesticides (20%) Shortcuts – Not wearing proper PPE (58%) – Taking gloves off (79% of applicators) Recurring focus on only Acute Toxicity
MSU PEP is trying to remind applicators to focus on just letting history be our guide!
Pesticide Poisonings: When did this begin?
A pesticide poisoning occurs when chemicals intended to control a pest affect non-target organisms such as humans, wildlife, or bees.
Arsenic has been around for 1,000’s of years. Evidence supports it’s discovery as far back as ancient Egypt. Tubocurarine has been found in primitive weapons of primitive man (>5,000 years old).
Perspective #1: 1939 – 1965 (What does not kill you makes you stronger!)
Silverbullet Pesticide – 1939 Swiss Chemist Synthesized DDT Paul Humen Muller
DDT had non-target effects
Good Side of DDT? -All but halted a 25% mortality rate in soldiers fighting in war from TYPHUS with a de-lousing program. -Saved millions of lives from malaria.
Perspective #2: 1965 – 1984 (Beware of who you trust, always be on the safe side!)
Agent
White Compound
4:1 mixture of 2,4-D and picloram
Agent
Orange
1:1 mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T Produces dioxins – carcinogen The National Toxicology Program has classified TCDD to be a human carcinogen, frequently associated with soft-tissue sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
1896 – 1985!
Chronic Toxicity
Long Term Exposure – Many repeated low dose exposures
Definition EPA mandates testing for chronic toxicity of: – Active ingredients only Usually on rats This is very expensive Chronic toxicity statements are placed on the product label (carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive damage, etc..)
1970’s - 1990’s: Perspective 3 Organophosphate and carbamate Era Hit
a climax in December 1984
Bhopal, India Disaster Methyl
isocyanate was an intermediate chemical when producing the product Sevin Pesticide cloud which covered 25 square miles.
Toxicity Union Carbide Pesticide Manufacturing Plant December 3rd, 1984 8,000 initial dead 15,000 more within 10 years 500,000 suffer injuries water wells near the site show overall chemical contamination to be 500 times higher than the maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization. cancer, genetic defects (birth defects), and liver and kidney damage.
27% of Montana applicators indicated they did not clean up all pesticide spills during their spray career.
Perspective #4: Delisting of many pesticide products from the 1990’s to present day. Many
of our current pesticide products have low acute toxicity. Have we learned from our mistakes.
Some of our “Safest” chemicals Chronic
Affects Evident
– Immune system problems – Sores, Rashes
It happens.
Prostate Cancer Associated With
Methyl bromide fumigant Chlorinated pesticides (men over 50) – Aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, hexachlor, toxophene Five pesticides with men with a family history of prostate cancer – Insecticides: chlorpyrifos (Lorsban), coumaphos (Co-Ral), fonofos (Dyfonate), permethrin (with animal uses)
Respiratory Health Wheeze
(airways in lungs are narrowed) associated with… –Pesticides (Paraquat, parathion, malathion, chlorpyrifos, atrazine, alachlor, EPTC)
Parkinsons Disease and Pesticide Use Applicators
have up to twice the risk of Parkinsons Disease – Used pesticides more than 400 days in their lifetime. – Strongly associated with paraquat use.
Personal Protective Equip. (PPE)
Good
News:
– Research shows PPE may reduce pesticide exposure by 90%
Bad
News:
– Fabric or leather gloves usage
Are applicators protecting others from pesticides? Do you wear PPE that is required on the product label while applying pesticides? Wear required PPE while applying pesticides
11%
42% Do not wear required PPE while applying pesticides
47%
While applying pesticides, did not know what was on the product label
Reading the product label can help you! *It can minimize risk towards yourself or your family.
Pesticide Poisoning Summary
Acute Poisonings are still a problem – Utah: 2 girls died in 2010 – Texas: 1 girl dies in 2007 – South Dakota: 1 girl died in 2000
Chronic Poisonings are common – – – – –
High dose event early in ones life Low dose exposures over time: no PPE Improper storage of pesticides Immune system susceptibility a problem Genetic factors evident
Pesticide Use Is
Ok Read and Follow the Pesticide Product Label – Wear PPE – Don’t drink it!
Contact Information Contact your Local Extension Office or the MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist 406-994-5067
[email protected] Web Address: www.pesticides.montana.edu
