HORTICULTURE

. Pesticide Safety

The safe use of chemical pesticides requires a respect for their toxicity. All manufacturers and distributors of pesticides are required by federal law to provide explicit information about their products’ ingredients, formulations, toxicity, and proper rates of application, and about the specific pests controlled and proper means of safe handling. This infor­mation is provided on the pesticide label (Figure 6-18). The signal words

Levels of Pesticide Toxicity and Safety Equipment Needed

that indicate the product’s level of toxicity should be committed to memory by everyone who must work with these important but danger­ous tools of modern agriculture (Table 6-2).

Equally important is the material safety data sheet (MSDS) that is pre­pared for each chemical product and included with it at delivery (Figure 6-19). The MSDS provides a complete compilation of all the informa­tion a user should know about the product. Information includes the manufacturer; the product’s chemical name, physical properties, and chemical reactivity; fire and explosion data; health hazard data includ­ing symptoms of exposure and carcinogenicity; special protection and handling information; and an emergency telephone number to call at any time for information regarding treatment for exposure or spillage. MSDS sheets should be kept in a place where they can be easily refer­enced if needed. Copies should be posted where everyone working with the pesticides can read them.

To protect against pesticide misuse, the following safeguards should always be observed:

• Use only products tested and recommended by the state college of agriculture.

• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe application of the product. NOTE: It is a violation of federal law to use pesticides in a manner inconsistent with the label directions.

• Use the lowest recommended concentration. Do not arbitrarily increase dosage or frequency of application.

• Do not apply on a windy day or before a rain. This precaution will prevent drifting of sprays and dusts in the wind and runoff of pesticides in rainwater.

• Mix only the amount of pesticide that can be applied at one time.

If excess remains, try to use it up on tolerant crops rather than disposing of the chemical elsewhere.

• Avoid spraying near streams and lakes or on slopes where runoff flows directly into a body of water. Also, do not spray near bee hives or at a time when bees are pollinating

• Keep pesticides in a locked area that is well-ventilated and is clearly marked with the statement that it contains pesticides. Do not stockpile pesticides because the danger of container corrosion and leakage increases with age.

TELEPHONE: 518-234-5315

CHEMICAL & FERTILIZER CORPORATION

BOX 123

COBLESKILL, NEW YORK 12043 U. S.A.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

Conforms to U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Standards

SECTION IV FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA

FLASH POINT (Method used)

FLAMMABLE LIMITS NA

with water spray. If conditions permit, cool containers with water if. exposed to fire

Protective inhalation equipment should be

should be removed from the area and

figure 6-19. Example of a material safety data sheet (MSDS) (Delmar/Cengage Learning)

Oral LD50 for Oxarayl 10 G: 110 mg/kg Dermal LD50 for Ocamyl 10 G: 2000 + i
SECTION V HEALTH HAZARD DATA
THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
LD50 for Tech Oxamyl: 5.4 mg/kg acute oral-danger!
EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE
Hay be fatal if swallowed, or inhaled, or absorbed through skin
EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES Call a physician immediately
Contact local poison control center and or hospital
Remove victim to fresh air. Remove contaminated clothing. Wash from skin with soap
and water. Flush eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes
SECTION VI REACTIVITY DATA
conditions to avoid Excessive heat, moisture
STABILITY
UNSTABLE
STABLE
INCOMPATABILITY (Materials to avoid)
NONE
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSHON PRODUCTS
NONE KNOWN
CONDITIONS TO AVOID
MAYOCCUR
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION
W LLNOT OCCUR
container
household bleach. Flush area with water
WASTE DISPOSAL METHOD Dispose of containers and waste in
SECTION VIII SPECIAL PROTECTION INFORMATION
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION (Specify type)
Self-contained respirator. (check list at bottom)
LOCAL EXHAUST	SPECIAL
VENT LAT ON
MECHANICAL (General)
OTHER
Impervious type	EYE PROTECTION	Chemica
PROTECTIVE GLOVES
OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
use. No smokin,
Do not store near
Personnel applying Oxy-Doxyl should wear all protective gear at all times
respirators: Mine Safety Appliances "Corafo Type H"; "Ultra Filter" Car i Optical Sureguard Filter Cartridge No. R58 The information herein is given in good faith, but no warranty, express implied, is made.
FIGURE 6-19. (Continued)

• Wash all application equipment and clothing thoroughly after use: soap and water on the gloves before removal; three water flushings of spray tanks and hoses for equipment; all contaminated clothing hosed off and hung to dry. Store protective clothing away from the chemicals.

• For certain pesticides, such as nonselective herbicides, the sprayer should be marked and not used for any other purpose lest the residue harm an important crop.

• Careful records of pesticide use must be kept, including what was applied to what, in what amounts, when, and by whom.

• Empty pesticide containers should be disposed of carefully. They should never be set out for municipal collection or just hauled off to a local dump site. Many states have designated chemical dump sites where materials are carefully packaged and identified before disposal. With less toxic pesticides, empty containers should be buried or transported to a sanitary landfill.

• Telephone numbers of nearby doctors, hospitals, and the closest poison control center should be posted in a conspicuous location.