North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service
Volume 16, No. 1, January 1998
Storage and Handling
Pesticide and Fertilizer
Containment Handbook
Safety
Comparison of Farm Chemical
Exposures 97 vs 96
Cover Those Hands!
In This Issue
Coordinator Comments
Law
Pesticide Perceptions
IPM
Pest Control
Education
Pesticide Training
Agricultural pesticide and fertilizer storage and handing sites represent high risks for point source contamination of surface water and groundwater because of the concentration and type of products at the site. Federal and state legislatures are active nationwide to establish agricultural pesticide and fertilizer use policies to protect air, water and soil quality, as well as human health and wildlife.
A handbook available from Midwest Plan Service (MWPS-37) includes the best information currently available regarding design of facilities for storing, handling and using agricultural pesticides and fertilizer.
The handbook is intended to be an engineering reference that provides recommendations based on accepted engineering practices. They are not standards. It is a resource that makes recommendations in design and offers solutions to common problems. Everyone that handles farm chemicals must make a decision that considers the safety of individuals, as well as the environment. Properly designed pesticide and fertilizer facilities promote safe storage, handling and disposal practices that also consider worker hazards and minimize the risk of point source contamination. An ideal facility considers safety in all aspects and provides the following:
4. Secure, dry storage of pesticides separate from fertilizer.
5. Secondary containment of spills that may result from mixing/loading operations.
6. Secondary containment of large, accidental spills or leaks
7. Facilities for collecting, storing, and recycling excess spray solutions and rinsates.
8. An area for storing empty pesticide containers and other waste prior to disposal
9. Office facilities for recordkeeping and communications.
10. Storage for personal protective equipment, supplies, first-aid, showers, restrooms and laundry.
The handbook is available through all county extension offices
(Submitted by: Vern Hofman, NDSU Extension Ag Engineering)
Following is a report from Brien Nelson of the North Dakota Poison Control Center for 1997 and 1996. It is gratifying to see a significant drop in the reported exposures for last year. Thanks to all dealers, handlers, loaders, commercial applicators, farmers and home owners for a safer 1997. It is evident that individuals have read the label and have become more aware and knowledgeable about pesticide safety. Thanks to NDSU Extension pesticide training, the Poison Control Center meetings and publications, Worker Protection Act (even if we don't like big brother watching over us) and inspections, warnings and violations written by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
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Total 1996 Total 1997
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Route of Exposure
Dermal 15 4
Eye 9 1
Inhalation 8 8
Ingestion 2 0
Dermal/eye 0 0
Dermal/inhalation 16 8
Dermal/eye/inhalation 5 0
Dermal/ingestion 2 0
TOTAL 57 21
Class of Chemical Involved
Anhydrous ammonia 21 5
Carbamate herbicides/
fungicides 2 3
Trifluralin 3 0
Chlorophenoxy compounds 6 2
Organophosphate 2 1
Carbofuran 2 2
Glyphosate 2 1
Pyrenthins 6 0
Treflan 5 0
Picioran 0 3
Tin compounds 0 3
Other/general/unknown 11 4
TOTAL 60 24
*Some exposures had multiple chemicals
Activity Involved in Exposure
Actual spraying/applying 29 13
Tank mixing/filling 7 1
Hose breakage/equipment
failure 5 3
Handling/storage 6 1
Grain bin 2 1
Spray drift 8 2
TOTAL 57 21
Population Involved
Individual farmer/
applicator 37 15
Farm family member/
employee 14 3
General Public 6 3
TOTAL 57 21
Age Breakdown
1 year old 1 0
2 years old 1 0
3 years old 1 1
5 years old 1 0
6 years old 1 0
13 years old 2 1
16 years old 0
Over 17 years old 50 18
TOTAL 57 21
Medical Outcome
No effect 3 1
Minor effect 35 13
Moderate effect 7 6
Major effect 1 0
Unknown 8 1
Unrelated 3 0
TOTAL 57 21
Home Treatment 29 16
Emergency Room/
Physician Visit 18 4
Hospitalization 1 0
Recommend to ER/Refused 5 1
Unknown 4 0
TOTAL 57 21
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Submitted by John Sellie, Acting Pesticide Program Coordinator
It happens so easily, without even thinking about it. You start your work, handling a pesticide in the process of measuring and mixing, or just moving pesticides around in the storage facility. You started your work with protective gloves on, and then for some reason the gloves were taken off. Probably for a good reason — at the moment. Then, there you are, working barehanded with pesticides. That is an exposure to pesticide. Very simple wasn't it?
As tough as working hands appear to be, they are still quite susceptible to pesticide absorption. The absorption rate, compared to the groin area which is 100 percent, is nearly 12 percent! If this exposure is allowed to occur almost all day long and becomes a habit, that exposure is very significant for some pesticide products. The label will tell you.
If gloves are that important, how do they protect us from pesticide poisoning? There are several considerations in how gloves offer protection.
Penetration. This is when the pesticide passes through a physical defect in the glove. Physically worn out gloves are not protective. If there are pinholes or other faults in the gloves, they have been worn too long. Throw them out!
Degredation. Have the gloves been exposesd to the chemicals too long? This shows up as a wrinkled, dimpled, crazed, or checked surface. When these characteristics show up, throw the gloves away! They are beginning to fail in protecting your hands.
Permeation. Also known as breakthrough time, this is when the chemical moves through the glove material on a molecular level. Permeation is quite hard to detect on a pair of gloves. No glove material is impermeable. Chemicals will work their way through any material that gloves are made of. Some clues or indicators of permeation are an odd odor in the glove, skin irritation (watch for this one!), and a cold feeling on the skin. Obey the manufacturer's recommendations for service life of the gloves.
Will the gloves allow you pick up the small parts that you need to and get the job done? Dexterity is important when you are working with sprayer nozzles and nozzle screens. Are the gloves flexible enough that you can do the work and stay protected?
Construction. How are the gloves made? Are they a molded glove, or do they have welded seams? Are the gloves lined? Lined gloves are not satisfactory for pesticide work. The lining absorbs and traps pesticide residue that will not wash out completely.
Type of material. This has everything to do with what chemicals the gloves are resistant to. Select the wrong material and the glove may fall apart on your hand or the chemical may pass right through as if no gloves were worn. There is a wide variety of materials for pesticide gloves: Barrier Laminate, Butyl Rubber >14 mils, Nitrile Rubber >14 mils, Neoprene Rubber >14mils, Natural Rubber >14mils, Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) >14mils, Viton >14mils.
The label of a pesticide will tell you in the very first part of the Precautionary Statements section if gloves are required for personal protection while working with that particular product. If gloves are not mentioned in that statement then they are not required. You may wear them if you wish but you don't have to. If they are mentioned, then you had better wear them for your own good. It is very simple advice. Just be sure to select the right glove for the job, it does make a difference to your health!
(Submitted by: George Maher, NDSU Extension Safety Specialist)
[ In This Issue /
Coordinator Comments]
[ Law ]
[ Pesticide Perceptions ]
[ IPM / Pest Control ]
[ Education / Pesticide Training ]
Volume 16, No. 1 -- January 1998
NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of
Agriculture and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo,
North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress
of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities
to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin,
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North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service