Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 40

Pesticide Application and Safety
Pesticide Application and
Safety
Reviewed by Ben Phillips - Sept 2021
Pesticides are designed to poison or otherwise manage pests.
Many pesticide products may poison people, pets, livestock,
wildlife, ornamental plants, and other non-target organisms.
Pesticide applicators and their families are at increased risk of
pesticide exposure. It is important to keep all pesticide
exposures to an absolute minimum.
You must protect your family members, field workers, and
other people from pesticide injuries. Most pesticide accidents
result from careless practices or lack of knowledge about safe
handling. The time you spend to learn about the safe use of
pesticides is an investment in the health and safety of you,
your family, and others.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) places
certain restrictions on the use of pesticide chemicals.
These restrictions apply to chemicals applied to control
insects, mites, plant diseases, weeds, nematodes, and other
pests. Such restrictions may prohibit the use of a chemical or
allow residue tolerances on harvested vegetables. Growers
must know what chemical to use on each vegetable; how to
apply the products; the post- treatment re-entry interval, if
any; when to use the chemicals with respect to farm worker
and/or picker safety; and the environment and the harvest of
each vegetable crop.
Growers must follow all label instructions regarding harvest
restrictions to assure consumers that the food is free of
dangerous residues and to comply with the law to prevent
seizure of their crops. Here are some rules for the safe use of
pesticides:
* Only mix the amount of a pesticide you can use in one
day.
* If you do have leftover spray mix, the best way to
dispose of it is by applying it to a labeled crop in a legal
manner.
* Never dispose of surplus pesticides in a way that will
result in the contamination of ground or surface waters.
* Rinse all empty containers three times before disposal.
* Pour the rinse water into the spray tank. Puncture or
break triple-rinsed containers to facilitate drainage and to
prevent reuse for any other purpose.
* Then dispose of the container according to label
directions.
Pesticide Signal Words
Each pesticide container is required by law to have signal
words to quickly communicate information about the
product's acute toxicity. The three signal words, as provided
by the National Pesticide Information Center, are:
* CAUTION. This signal word means the pesticide is
slightly toxic if eaten, absorbed through the skin, or
inhaled, or it causes slight eye or skin irritation.
* WARNING. This signal word means the pesticide is
moderately toxic if eaten, absorbed through the skin, or
inhaled, or it causes moderate eye or skin irritation.
* DANGER. This signal word means the pesticide is
highly toxic by at least one route of exposure. It may be
corrosive, which would cause irreversible damage to the
skin or eyes. It may be highly toxic if eaten, absorbed
through the skin, or inhaled. If this is the case, then
POISON must also be included in red letters on the front
panel of the product label.
Minimizing Pesticide Exposure
Signal words convey the acute toxicity of a pesticide.
However, exposure to any pesticide, even those without
signal words, can lead to long-term health effects. It's
important to take precautions to minimize exposure to any
and all pesticides. Check the product label for specific
instructions to minimize exposure. Some label precautions
include:
* Wear the proper respiratory equipment when handling or
applying.
* Wear protective clothing that covers as much of the body
as possible.
* Always use rubber gloves, not leather or cloth gloves,
and never use bare hands to handle pesticides.
* Do not breathe in these pesticides when opening
containers or mixing into spray tanks.
* Always wash hands, arms, and face immediately after
handling, and before eating or smoking.
* Never smoke while handling or applying.
* Reduce all possible hazards of coming into direct contact
with spray drift, and avoid spraying if conditions are too
windy.
* Shower or bathe thoroughly after each day's work, and
change clothes.
* Wash spray clothes separately from the family wash,
then run another complete hot water and detergent wash
cycle before washing other clothes.
* Wear clean overalls, underwear, socks, and cap each day
you spray.
* Always keep pesticides in their original labeled
containers, and store in a safe place.
* Store and dispose of containers according to information
on pesticide labels.
40
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022
