David
E. Baker
University of Missouri Extension
We use
chemicals every day. They help us to live better and stay
healthy. Yet, when used carelessly, even familiar chemicals
can be dangerous. Each year about 200,000 accidental poisonings
occur in the United States; of these, about 2,500 result in
death. In Missouri there were approximately 14,000 reported
cases treated at poison control centers during 1977.
Take
a quick look around your home - check drawers, storage shelves,
cupboards (especially those under the bathroom and kitchen sinks)
and medicine cabinets. Inspect the basement, garage and all
utility buildings. How many of the following products could
a child reach?
- Bleach,
bowl cleaner, cleaning powders, wax remover, ammonia, floor
wax, etc.
- Food
extracts - vanilla, almond and maple are powerful poisons
if taken straight from the bottle undiluted.
- Varnish,
paints, paint thinners and paint removers.
- Fuels
such as kerosene, charcoal lighter and gasoline.
- Pesticides
such as weed killers, insect sprays, mothballs and rat poison.
- Aspirin,
vitamins, sleeping pills and other medicines.
- Antiseptics
such as iodine.
Every
one of these products can cause serious illness and even death,
and children are usually the victims. Many children will eat
or drink anything they can get in their hands. If it happens
to be lye, bleach, pesticides, cleaning fluids, too many aspirin
or any of the items listed above, the results can be tragic.
Always store these products where children cannot reach them.
Home
poisonings should never happen. The best prevention method
is a locked storage space. If locked storage is impractical,
keep poisons out of the reach of children. Many products are
now sold in "childproof" packages as a result of the Poison
Prevention Packaging Act. Ask for and use childproof packaging.
The
disposal of pressurized spray containers requires special
consideration. The contents may be poisonous (insecticides,
pesticides), highly flammable (paint, lacquer, hair spray),
or selectively damaging (hair spray in the eyes). When using
any flammable substance, refrain from smoking or using open
flames. Pressurized containers should never be disposed of
by burning in a furnace or incinerator because they may explode
at high temperatures. Follow the manufacturers label recommendations
for safe disposal.
The
most important rule to follow when using pesticides and other
dangerous chemicals is to read the label. Read it before you
buy the product, before you open the container, before you mix
it, before you apply it and before you get rid of any unused
portions or the empty container. Know and follow all of the
instructions and precautions.
The
use of pesticides demands caution and responsibility for effective
results. Consider both the hazards of pesticides and the protective
clothing you should wear when using pesticides.
Before
a pesticide can harm you, it must be taken into your body.
There are three ways toxic materials can be taken into the
body:
- Oral
- through the mouth and digestive system.
- Dermal
- through the skin.
- Inhalation
- through the nose and respiratory system.
Table
1. Absorption rates compared to the forearm (1.0) |
Body
Part |
Absorption
rate |
Scalp |
3.7 |
Forehead |
4.2 |
Ear
canal |
5.4 |
Abdomen |
2.1 |
Forearm |
1.0 |
Palm |
1.3 |
Scrotal
area |
11.8 |
Ball
of foot |
1.6 |
Using protective
clothing can usually control the absorption of a chemical by
the dermal and/or inhalation routes of entry. Pesticides pass
through the skin on some areas of the body more quickly than
on other areas (Table 1). You must be especially careful with
your eyes. The back of the hands and wrists absorb more than
the palms do. The armpits, back of the neck, groin and feet
also take in pesticides easily. Cuts or scrapes allow pesticides
to enter even more easily.
For
general protection, a long-sleeved shirt and full length trousers
are mandatory. All outer clothing should be made of a closely
woven material. When working with concentrates or moderately
to severely toxic substances, wear rubber gloves, boots, a
rubber apron and/or a chemical cartridge respirator. Check
the label to determine what personal protective equipment
should be worn, and review MU publication G01917, Personal
Protective Equipment for Working With Pesticides.
Once
applicators have read the label and are properly protected,
they should observe additional precautions during the application
process. When homeowners are using chemicals, some special
precautions are necessary both inside and outside the home.
Always make sure the chemical you plan to use has been cleared
for use in an enclosed area; follow any precautions listed
on the label. Restrain pets, children and visitors from entering
the sprayed area. The applicator should avoid inhaling chemical vapors, and adequate ventilation should be provided. Use
common sense to avoid spraying near dishes, eating utensils
and food.
When
applying pesticides outdoors, the applicator should consider
weather conditions. Loss of spray from a treated area decreases
during low winds and high humidity. In Missouri these conditions
are most prevalent before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Avoid
spraying near beehives, lakes, streams, pastures, houses,
schools, playgrounds, hospitals or sensitive crops such as
tomatoes whenever possible. If you must spray these areas,
do not spray during low humidity or windy conditions; always
spray downwind from the sensitive area.
Before
spraying, check the label for re-entry and preharvest intervals.
The re-entry interval is the elapsed time after a pesticide
application before you can safely re-enter a sprayed area.
The preharvest interval is the elapsed time between a pesticide
application and harvest of a crop for consumption or canning.
To clean
the sprayer, mix about 1/8 cup of detergent per gallon of
water. Rinse the tank, hose and spray nozzle with the detergent
solution. After rinsing with the detergent solution, flush
the sprayer with an ammonia solution (1/2 cup household ammonia
per quart of water), then flush thoroughly with clean water.
Store the tank upside down to allow it to drain and dry out.
Store the pump assembly separately to allow the tank to drain.
To reduce rusting, periodically spray the inside of the tan
with a light oil spray.
After
equipment is cleaned and stored, it is important to sanitize
clothing worn during the application process. Before the applicator
removes his gloves, he or she should wash them thoroughly
with detergent and water. These items should be rinsed, dried
and stored in an area free from chemicals. It is important
that contaminated protective clothing is not washed with usual
family laundry. Wear clean clothing whenever you handle pesticides.
If the pesticide is spilled directly on the clothing, flush
large amounts of water over them before removing the clothes.
This action will decrease skin contamination and dilute the
chemical. Then take a bath and change into fresh clothes immediately.
Beware of heavily contaminated clothing. Such clothes should
be discarded because they probably will not come entirely clean.
The applicator should always bathe thoroughly after applying
or handling any pesticides.
Labels
on most household chemicals will contain important information
on use and storage. Some chemical labels (pesticides, cleaning
products, etc.) will also contain precautionary information
on chemical hazards (toxicity, flammability, etc.) and emergency
first aid information. But labels are effective only if applicators
read them and follow the warnings.
Key
words on labels may be used - "danger" for substances that
are extremely flammable, corrosive or highly toxic, and "warning"
or "caution" on substances that require care in storage or
handling. Each label should carry information on the principal
hazard or hazards that may be associated with the chemical
- "causes burns", "flammable," "rapidly absorbed through the
skin," "avoid contact with the skin and eyes," or "keep away
from heat and open flame." The user should be familiar with
the potential hazards of each material used around the home.
A
common cause of household chemical poisonings is the frequent
use of improper containers such as beer or soft drink bottles
to store cleaning fluids, paint thinners, pesticides and other
mixtures. To a child, a soft drink bottle means something good
to drink regardless of what may be in it.
Keep
all substances in their original containers. If it is necessary
to transfer contents from the original container, attach the
original label to the new container. Be sure to indicate on
the new container the exact substance, trade name, concentration
and any special directions regarding its use.
Never
reuse any container that once held poison. Rinse it thoroughly
and throw it away. Dispose of it properly where children cannot
find and play with it.
Should
a poisoning occur, quick and calm action is extremely important.
Poison control centers that are located in various cities of
the state handle emergency poisoning telephone calls. Check
your telephone directory for the nearest Poison Control Center.
To assist
in case of a poisoning, post the following list of phone numbers
inside your medicine cabinet door and near your telephone.
Emergency
telephone numbers: _________
Physician's
Office: _________
Home:
_________
Poison
Control Center: _________
Hospital:
_________
Pharmacist:
_________
Rescue
Squad: _________
Fire
Department: _________
Police
Department: _________
Follow
these steps in case of poisoning:
- First,
dilute the poison whenever possible. Give the victim a glass
of water.
- Call
the Poison Control Center, doctor or hospital promptly!
Since the doctor must know what chemicals are in the poison,
have this information available (if possible) before calling.
- If
so directed on the label, make the patient vomit. Do not
make the patient vomit if:
- He
or she is unconscious or is having seizures.
- Swallowed
poison was a strong corrosive.
- Swallowed
poison contained kerosene, gasoline or other petroleum
distillates (unless it contains dangerous insecticide
as well, which must be removed).
- To
induce vomiting:
- Give
syrup of ipecac: Children, 20 ml (4 teaspoons); adults,
30 ml (2 tablespoons); taken with at least two to three
glasses of water. Do not use carbonated beverages with
syrup of ipecac. If vomiting does not occur after using
syrup of ipecac (approximately 20 minutes, depending
on distance to the emergency room), the victim's stomach
must be pumped because the syrup of ipecac has been
absorbed and will interfere with heart action.
- Do
not waste time waiting for vomiting; transport the patient
to a medical facility immediately. Bring the poison
package or container with the label intact. Bring a
container for the patient to vomit into during transportation.
Save all vomitus for evaluation if needed. Call for
help promptly - be sure to keep one ounce of syrup of
ipecac in your home.
These
recommendations were provided by the American Association
of Poison Control Centers.
CHECKLIST FOR POISON
PROOFING YOUR HOME
How
poison proof is your home? Use the following checklist to evaluate:
- Kitchen
- No
household products under the sink.
- No
medicines on counters or in open areas such as on top
of the refrigerator or window sills.
- All
cleaners, household products and medications out of
reach.
- Bathroom
- Medicine
chest cleaned out regularly.
- Old
medications thrown out.
- All
medicines in original, safety top containers.
- All
medicines, sprays, powders, cosmetics, fingernail preparations,
hair care products, etc. out of reach.
- Bedroom
- No
medicines in or on dresser or bedside table.
- All
perfumes, cosmetics, powders and sachets out of reach.
- Laundry
area
- All
bleaches, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, bluing
agents and sprays out of reach.
- All
of the above in original containers.
- All
cleaners out of reach.
- Garage/basement
- Pesticides
in locked area.
- Gasoline
and car products in locked area.
- Turpentine,
paints, and paint products in locked area.
- All
of the above in original containers.
- General
household
- Alcoholic
beverages out of reach.
- Ashtrays
empty or out of reach.
- Plants
out of reach.
- Paint
in good repair.
- Household
and personal products out of reach.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Other
MU publications related to chemical safety and its application
available at your University Extension Center are: G01915, First
Aid for Pesticide Poisoning, G01917, Personal Protective Equipment
for Working with Pesticides, G01916, Pesticide Application Safety,
and G01908, Fires in Agricultural Chemicals.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This document
is
GO1918
,
published by the University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia,
Columbia, MO 65211. Publication date: October 1993.
David
E. Baker, Department of Agricultural Engineering, University
of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211.
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