Pesticides, PPE and You

Andrea Sawatzky

Pesticide Compliance Officer

Pesticide Compliance Program

January 20, 2016

Objectives

• Explain how Health Canada’s health risk assessment leads

to specific requirements on pesticide labels including

personal protective equipment (PPE), Restricted Entry

Intervals (REI) and Pre-harvest intervals (PHI).

• Increase compliance with PPE and other label statements.

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Outline

• Importance of reading labels

• Risk and exposure evaluation

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Restricted entry intervals (REI)

• Pre-harvest Intervals (PHI)

• MRLs

• Label search tool

• Questions

We make decisions about risk everyday…

OR

We make decisions about risk everyday…

OR

OR

We make decisions about risk everyday…

Reduce your Risk, Read the Label!

• Labels contain valuable info on safe and

effective handling, storage, application and

disposal of pesticides

• Labels can change, so they should be re-read

each season

• Principal Display Panel

– Basic chemical information

– Company information

– Precautions and First Aid

– Notice to User

• Use Section of the Label

– Crop, pest, rate, timing, number of applications …

– Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) and Re-Entry Interval (REI)

– Resistance management

– Tank Mix information

– Plant tolerance information

Read the Label!

GROUP 22 HERBICIDE

REWARD®

Aquatic Herbicide

Solution

RESTRICTED

For control of weeds in still or slow-moving water of farm dugouts, farm ponds, industrial ponds, farm ditches, lakes, streams and

canals, and for weed control in non-crop land (rights-of-way for transportation or utility corridors, airports, wasteland, garbage dumps

and industrial parks).

GUARANTEE:

Diquat ion ....................................................... 240 g per litre

(present as dibromide)

READ THE LABEL AND BOOKLET BEFORE USING

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

WARNING POISON

CAUTION – EYE AND SKIN IRRITANT

REGISTRATION NO. 26271

PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS ACT

NET CONTENT: 1 L - 5 L

Syngenta Canada Inc.

140 Research Lane, Research Park Guelph, Ontario

N1G 4Z3

Telephone: 1-877-964-3682

FIRST AID

Take container, label or product name and Pest Control Product Registration Number with

you when seeking medical attention.

If swallowed, call a poison control centre or doctor IMMEDIATELY for treatment advice.

Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told to

do so by a poison control centre or doctor. Do not give anything by mouth to an

unconscious person.

If in eyes, IMMEDIATELY hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15–20

minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing

eye. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment advice.

If on skin or clothing, take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin IMMEDIATELY with

plenty of water for 15–20 minutes. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment

advice.

If inhaled, move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance,

then give artificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a poison

control centre or doctor for further treatment advice.

Watch for warnings

Watch for restrictions

PRECAUTIONS

EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO DIQUAT MAY CAUSE A HEALTH HAZARD. FOLLOWING THE

DIRECTIONS AND PRECAUTIONS WILL REDUCE EXPOSURE.

DO NOT get on skin or clothing. DO NOT get in eyes. Wear chemical resistant coveralls over a

long-sleeved shirt and long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, protective eyewear, socks, chemical

resistant footwear, and a respirator during mixing, loading and application, clean-up and repair.

Chemical-resistant headgear must be worn for overhead applications. Most exposure to pesticides

is by absorption through skin, especially from concentrated material handled at the time of mixing

and loading. Rolling down the sleeve end of the glove will prevent drips of liquid from running

down the glove onto your arm.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)• How is the level of PPE determined?

• Why is it important?

Occupational Exposure Evaluation

• Possible exposure scenarios:

– During mixing/loading and application

– After application and re-entry in treated areas

– Work site (industry, vehicle, field, greenhouse)

• Estimate exposure for each route:

– Inhalation of pesticides

– Amount deposited on skin

– Absorbed through the skin

– Ingested orally

(hand-to-mouth transfer for children)

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Occupational Pesticide Exposure

Studies

• Chemical-specific or surrogate studies– Passive dosimetry exposure monitoring (Dermal, Inhalation)

– Biological Monitoring (measure blood, urine, metabolites)

– Dermal absorptions studies (rats, monkeys, humans, in-vitro)

– Clothing Penetration / personal protective equipment performance

studies

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Occupational Pesticide Exposure

Studies

(Reference: Pesticides and the Environment, Stephenson and Solmon 2007)

• Inner Dosimeter

– Cotton long underwear

(worn under regular work

clothes)

– Long sleeves, long pants

• Inhalation

– Air pump

• Face/neck wipes

• Hand wash

• Occupational exposure is compared to toxicology endpoints.

• When exposure levels present risk concerns, mitigation measure are

required.

• Increase personal protective equipment

– Cotton coveralls & gloves - can decrease dermal exposure by 75%

– Chemical resistant coveralls & gloves – can decrease dermal exposure

by >90%

– Respirator – can decrease inhalation exposure by >90%

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Occupational Risk Management

Risk Management - Other

• Limit number or rate of applications

• Closed application systems

• Packaging modifications

• Ventilation requirements

• Reformulation

• Restrict uses

• No registration / discontinuation

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Personal Protective Equipment• Different parts of your body absorb pesticides at different rates.

• Dermal Absorption is the most common route of exposure when using pesticides – follow label directions and protect yourself.

– Unlined gloves and boots

– Aprons where directed - groin area readily absorbs splashed pesticides

– Hats and ear protections where directed.

– 100% of pesticide that comes in contact with your eyes is absorbed

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Respiratory Protection

– Inhaling pesticides is a common entry route and the

lungs are sensitive – wear the appropriate NIOSH

respiratory protection listed on the pesticide label.

– Respirator must fit properly!

– Must be equipped filters or canisters certified to

provide protection for the pesticide being used.

– Respirators should be stored in a sealed plastic bag

until next use to preserve life of the filter. Replace

cartridges regularly.

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Different application equipment may require

different PPE…

Pro Dursban Turf Insecticide PCP# 24945

Proper Use and Care of PPE

• Store out of reach of children and pets.

• Avoid touching clean surfaces while wearing PPE (eg. Door handles,

steering wheels)

• If pesticide gets inside PPE, remove clothing immediately, shower or wash

thoroughly and change into clean clothing.

• Remove PPE in a predetermined area away from living or working areas.

• Repair/replace torn or broken PPE.

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Washing PPE• Wash gloves with soap and water and leave them on to remove and wash

other PPE.

• Treat all clothing worn during application as contaminated and wash.

• Wash PPE according to manufacturers directions and store them away from chemicals.

• Coveralls and other spray clothing must be washed separately from other clothing.

– If splashed by concentrated pesticides clothing should be thrown away not washed.

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Washing PPE• Use hot water, heavy duty detergent, highest water level setting and the

longest wash cycle.

• Heavily soiled clothing should be washed 2-3 times.

• After washing, run the washing machine through one complete cycle with

detergent.

• If possible line dry the clothing.

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Restricted Entry Intervals (REI)

• A restricted entry interval (REI) is the amount of time after a

pesticide is applied during which access to a treated area must be

restricted

• An REI is required when the potential daily exposure to residues is

going to be above the levels deemed as safe

• Can range from several hours to a number of days

• REI statements come in various forms

Nova Fungicide PCP #22399

Nova Fungicide PCP # 22399

DO NOT allow entry into treated area for a minimum of 12 hours for all crops, unless a longer

REI is specified

Just because you can’t see the pesticide

residues doesn’t mean they’re not present…

Exposure performing activities in greenhouse after 12 hour REI

Photo : Onil Samuel (INSPQ)

Restricted Entry Intervals (REI)

• In absence of REI on the label,

follow precautionary approach,

restrict entry into treated area until

residues are dried

Pre-Harvest Intervals (PHI)

• A pre-harvest interval (PHI) is a function of

the pesticide use pattern and amount of

pesticide residue allowed on the crop at

harvest.

• Residue levels are affected:

– Crop growth (dilution)

– Environmental conditions (such as water or

UV radiation)

– Microorganisms on the plants and in the soil.

• The PHI must be long enough for residues

in the harvested crop to degrade to a level

that is acceptable (i.e. the MRL).

Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs)

• Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs):

– The amount of pesticide residue allowed to remain on food sold in

Canada

– Levels are based on scientific data and are protective of human health

(acute and chronic dietary exposure)

• Residues that exceed the MRL on food = violation of the Food and

Drug Regulations and could also pose a risk to consumers’ health.

• MRLs are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

• Harvested crop could be seized, destroyed or forbidden for export.

• Important to use only pesticides registered for the specific crop,

follow application rates, number of applications and PHI stated on

the label.

Pre-Harvest Intervals

Citadel 480 EC PCP# 27479

Floramite SC Miticide PCP# 27924

Pre-Harvest Intervals• PHI can be different for greenhouse and

field crops because of differences in use

pattern (application rate, # of applications)

and residue decline:

Rovral WDG Fungicide PCP # 24709Pre-Harvest Intervals

Pre-Grazing Interval

Tordon 101 PCP # 9007

STORAGE

Store in original container, tightly closed, in a safe place away from children.

Store above 0 oC. If crystallization occurs because of storage below this, warm to room

temperature and agitate gently until reconstituted.

DECONTAMINATION AND DISPOSAL

For information on disposal of unused, unwanted product, contact the manufacturer or the

provincial regulatory agency. Contact the manufacturer and the provincial regulatory agency in

case of a spill, and for clean up of spills.

CONTAINER DISPOSAL:

FOR DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC JUGS:

Do not reuse this container for any purpose. This is a recyclable container, and is to be

disposed of at a container collection site. Contact your local distributor/dealer or municipality

for the location of the nearest collection site. Before taking the container to the collection site:

1. Triple- or pressure-rinse the empty container. Add the rinsings to the spray mixture in

the tank.

2. Make the empty, rinsed container unsuitable for further use.

Storage & Disposal

• Some labels state certain storage & disposal

conditions.

• Provincial regulations may have additional

requirements for storage & disposal.

• Possession of unregistered pesticides is a violation of

the Pest Control Products Act.

• Make sure all old, unregistered pesticides are disposed

of according to provincial regulations.

Incident Report 2011-2572

• An incident report was submitted to the PMRA by Syngenta Crop Protection Canada on June 24, 2011 involving an unknown product containing the active ingredient paraquat. The incident occurred in Canada and involved the death of an adult male who had accidentally ingested some herbicide containing 37% paraquat. It was reported that the individual was landscaping at his home and mistook a container of the product for a water bottle. He was hospitalized for five days and treated for renal failure and pulmonary fibrosis. On the fifth day he was removed from life support and passed away.

Incident Report 2011-2114

• Health Canada received a report of an incident involving a young child from Alberta that was suspected of ingesting a small amount of the pesticide product 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate (PCP Registration Number 28751). The child was found in the cab of a pick-up truck falling in and out of consciousness. Several bottles of the product were being stored under the passenger seat of the truck. When the child was discovered, it was noted that one of the bottles had been opened and that a small amount of product was missing from the bottle. The child was hospitalized for three days and was expected to make a full recovery.

Reduce your Risk, Read the Label!

• Labels contain valuable info on safe and effective handling, storage, application and disposal of pesticides

• Reduced Exposure = Reduced Risk of Health Effects

– Personal Protective Equipment = ↓ applicator exposure

– Restricted Entry Intervals = ↓ worker re-entry exposure

– Pre-harvest Intervals = ↓ consumer dietary exposure

• Some products would not be registered if

not for the PPE requirements on the label

Label Search Site…it’s EASY!

• Google: “PMRA label search”

• Use the drop down menus or search bar at the

bottom of the page to search for:

Products by Active Ingredients

Products by Brand Name

Crop and pest combinations

• Wildcards:%

•Boolean search examples

Operator Search Criteria Results

NOT animals NOT dogs Returns documents that

contain the word animals

but not dogs.

AND cats AND dogs Returns documents that

contain both cats and dogs

only (documents containing

cats but not dogs would not

be displayed).

OR cats OR dogs Returns documents that

contain either cats or dogs.

• Then click on the link to the left for a pdf of the full label

“This pest control product is to be used only in accordance with the directions on the label. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products Act to use this product in a way that is inconsistent with the directions on the label. The user assumes the risk to persons or property that arises from any such use of this product.”

Why are we concerned?

Your greenspace is a worksite and we need to take care of those working around us. Please use common sense and respect the label.

Notice to User

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PMRA Website

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/index-eng.php

Information Service: 1-800-267-6315 (Canada) or 613-736-3799 (outside Canada)

Alberta Contacts:

Nasila Ali (RM) 780-495-5042 Edmonton

Andrea Sawatzky (PCO) 403-292-4411 Calgary

Julie Sisson (PCO) 403-382-4794 Lethbridge

Arlene Agno (PCO) 780-495-7014 Edmonton

Emily Carpenter (PCO) 780-495-0169 Edmonton

Steve Learmonth 403-292-4732 Calgary