Ames, Iowa
Pm-1265e
| Reprint | August 1994
Written by Wendy Wintersteen, extension entomology, and Laura Miller, extension communications.
A young boy was searching for clothing and other items at an outdoor collection bin used by a local charity. While looking through a bag of odds and ends, he found some small white tablets that looked like candy. He put them in his pocket and later, at home, he took out the tablets and began to chew on them. They weren't very good so he didn't eat much but, within hours, his parents found him slumped over and unconscious. They rushed him to the hospital where he fell into a coma and died the next day. Doctors identified the mysterious tablets: they were tablets of the pesticide Lindane.
| Pesticide disposal safety |
| How much do you know ? |
| Test
your knowledge with this quick quiz. 1. Of the pesticide deaths in the United States, what percentage occur to children under age 10? a) about 25 percent b) about 50 percent c) about 75 percent 2. If one ounce of pesticide entered the groundwater, how many gallons would be contaminated to 1 part per million? a) 1,200 gallons b) 3,500 gallons c) 7,800 gallons 3. Banned pesticides can be used if the container is still labeled. True or false? 4. Pesticides should be stored: a) in locked storage areas. b) away from livestock feed. c) in empty jars or pop bottles. d) a and b are correct Answers to quiz: 1-b; 2-c; 3-False; 4-d |
The importance of proper pesticide disposal is illustrated by this tragic but true story of a young Iowa boy. Improper pesticide disposal can lead to the death of humans or animals. It also may lead to irreversible environmental harm.
Since pesticides are toxic, every household or farm pesticide must be disposed of with caution and concern for others, particularly small children. Half of the pesticide-related deaths each year in the United States involve children under the age of 10. Improper disposal or storage is the main factor.
Small quantities of pesticides also have been detected in some groundwater samples in Iowa. The contamination often can be traced to one source where illegal or improper disposal occurred. Unfortunately, it only takes one ounce of pesticide to contaminate 7,800 gallons of groundwater to a potentially dangerous level of one part per million.
Safe pesticide disposal is of vital importance to you, your family, the community, and the environment. Whenever you have excess or unwanted pesticides, please take the extra time to dispose of them properly.
On the farmAlways keep pesticides in their original, labeled container. The label has important information on the legal uses for the product, and other matters like first aid. A pesticide should never be stored in an unlabeled bottle or jug. A child may see the bottle and think it contains soda pop, and become poisoned.
Never keep pesticides that have been banned, such as DDT, chlordane, or Silvex. A person who uses banned pesticides is breaking federal and state laws, and is endangering his or her own health and the environment.
Some pesticides may have been stored so long or in hot or cold conditions that the applicator is afraid to use them. The concern is justified, since lengthy or poor storage may alter the chemical efficacy of the pesticide with unknown results. Avoid this by only ordering enough pesticide for the current season.
If you have banned, unlabeled, or unwanted pesticides, properly store them until you can take them to the next Toxic Cleanup Day in your area. All pesticides collected during Toxic Cleanup Days are disposed of by professionals. For information on these activities, contact the Department of Natural Resources or your Extension office. In the meantime, be sure that your unwanted pesticides are stored in watertight containers that can withstand excess heat, cold, or moisture.
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The worst scenario is to dump gallons of excess or unwanted pesticide solution on the ground. Although the soil and weather normally degrade most pesticide sprays, dumping large amounts of pesticide overloads nature's ability to break down the chemicals. In fact, some pesticides may leach through the soil and contaminate the groundwater. Certain areas are particularly vulnerable. Pesticide dumping is illegal and unethical.
Practice caution when using granular pesticides, too. There are numerous examples of farm children or animals tasting small piles of granules left in the field or shed and becoming poisoned. No matter how they are made, all pesticides should be disposed with care.
Mixing pesticidesNever use an empty pesticide container for other purposes. Even though it may seem clean, small amounts of residue may remain in the container. Transporting water or feed in a pesticide container could have disastrous results.
The law and pesticide disposalLegal disposal of large amounts of pesticides may be complicated. Contact the Department of Natural Resources or the regional Environmental Protection Agency office for how to dispose large amounts of hazardous waste.
For more information
Publication #: Pm-1265e
Safe
Farm promotes health and safety in agriculture. It is funded
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health,
Iowa State University, and a network of groups that serve
Iowa farm workers and their families. Printed on recycled
paper with soy ink Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State
University of Science and Technology and the United States
Department of Agriculture cooperating. Robert M. Anderson,
Jr., director, Ames, Iowa. Distributed in furtherance of the
Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
. . . and justice for all The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service's
programs and policies are consistent with pertinent federal
and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age and disability.
File: Health and Safety 1 NIOSH #UO5/CCU706051-03
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
