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Ch.5: Pesticide Hazards and First Aid

Hazard = Toxicity x Exposure. The four routes of entry, signal word toxicity categories, cholinesterase inhibition, route-specific first aid, and heat stress recognition.

🎯 Top 5 Traps

HAZARD = TOXICITY x EXPOSURE. Hazard (risk) is the true concern — the probability of harm from BOTH the chemical's toxic potential AND the level of exposure. Reduce hazard by choosing a less-toxic product, by reducing exposure, or both. The greatest hazard usually occurs while MIXING and LOADING the concentrate (most concentrated, most toxic form). The signal word ONLY indicates ACUTE toxicity — chronic and delayed effects are NOT reflected in the signal word, even though chronic toxicity is often what's most serious for repeated handlers.

SKIN (DERMAL) is the PRIMARY route of pesticide entry — up to 97% of all body exposure during a spraying operation is by skin contact. Warm + moist body areas (groin, armpits, head, neck, backs of hands, tops of feet) absorb FAR MORE than palms and forearms. But palms and forearms still need protection because they get the MOST exposure. Cuts, abrasions, and skin rashes increase absorption. OIL-BASED formulations (ECs) are readily absorbed through skin; water-soluble liquids/powders, wettable powders, dusts, and granules do NOT easily penetrate.

Signal word toxicity categories rank ACUTE oral LD50 (lower = more toxic): DANGER-POISON (Class I; trace to 50 mg/kg; FEW DROPS fatal to 150-lb person; PELIGRO Spanish; skull + crossbones; "POISON" in red) → DANGER-without-skull (Class I; assigned for severe CONTACT injury — eye/skin/lung damage worse than systemic LD50) → WARNING (Class II; 50-500 mg/kg; 1 TEASPOON to 1 OUNCE fatal; AVISO Spanish) → CAUTION (Class III; 500-5,000 mg/kg) → Class IV (very low toxicity; NO signal word required). LC50 measures airborne/aquatic toxicity.

CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION is caused ONLY by ORGANOPHOSPHATE and CARBAMATE insecticides. Cholinesterase is the enzyme that controls nerve impulse transmission. Symptoms progress: MILD (fatigue, headache, dizziness, sweating, nausea, diarrhea), MODERATE (inability to walk, weakness, chest discomfort, CONSTRICTION OF PUPILS), SEVERE (unconscious, SEVERE pupil constriction, muscle twitching, drooling, breathing difficulty, COMA + DEATH). Baseline cholinesterase test must be done 30+ DAYS from last exposure or off-season; 2 baselines 72 hrs to 14 days apart. Recovery typically 3-5 WEEKS of no exposure. ANTIDOTES exist ONLY for OP/carbamate insecticides AND anticoagulant rodenticides — administered ONLY by qualified medical professionals; NEVER use to PREVENT poisoning.

First aid by route — and 3 situations where you NEVER induce vomiting: SKIN: remove contaminated clothing immediately; wash with soap + water (showering preferred over bathing); avoid harsh scrubbing (damages skin and increases absorption). EYES: hold eyelid open + DRIP water ACROSS the eye (NOT directly into) for 15 MINUTES continuously. INHALATION: CARRY (do NOT walk) victim to fresh air; lay down + warm + quiet. ORAL: rinse mouth + give water/milk (up to 1 quart). NEVER INDUCE VOMITING IF: (1) victim is UNCONSCIOUS or having CONVULSIONS; (2) victim swallowed CORROSIVE poison (strong alkali/acid burns coming up); (3) victim swallowed an EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATE or OIL SOLUTION (aspirated petroleum solvents into lungs may be fatal). Induce vomiting ONLY if the label says to. Always take the label with you to medical care.

🔢 Numbers You Must Know

Number

What It Represents

Hazard = Toxicity x Exposure

The risk equation. Reduce hazard by reducing toxicity, exposure, or both.

4 routes of entry

Dermal (skin), Ocular (eyes), Inhalation (lungs), Oral (mouth)

Up to 97 percent

Body exposure to pesticides during spraying that occurs through SKIN (dermal)

4 signal word categories

DANGER-POISON (Class I systemic), DANGER-without-skull (Class I contact), WARNING (Class II), CAUTION (Class III). Class IV (very low toxicity) requires NO signal word.

Trace to 50 mg/kg

Acute oral LD50 range for DANGER-POISON pesticides. Few drops fatal to 150-lb person.

50 to 500 mg/kg

Acute oral LD50 range for WARNING pesticides. 1 teaspoon to 1 ounce fatal to 150-lb person.

500 to 5,000 mg/kg

Acute oral LD50 range for CAUTION pesticides.

24 hours

Acute effects window — symptoms appearing within 24 hours of exposure (single, usually large)

2 years

Typical chronic toxicity test exposure period — represents lifetime of test animal (rats, mice, rabbits, dogs)

30+ days / 72 hours-14 days / 3-5 weeks

Cholinesterase testing: baseline 30+ days from last exposure or off-season; 2 baselines spaced 72 hrs to 14 days apart; recovery typically 3-5 weeks of no exposure after a drop.

15 minutes

Continuous eye flush duration after pesticide eye exposure

Up to 1 quart

Water or milk to give a victim with pesticide in mouth (after rinsing) — never give anything to an unconscious person

97 to 99 degrees F (avg 98.6)

Normal human body temperature range

Above 105 degrees F

Heatstroke body temperature — life-threatening; brain damage or death may occur if not cooled rapidly

10 percent or more

Mortality rate for severe heat stress victims — including young, healthy adults

Emergency phone numbers

911 (general emergency); 800-222-1222 (American Association of Poison Control Centers / AAPCC); 800-858-7378 (National Pesticide Information Center / NPIC); 888-426-4435 (Animal Poison Control Center)

🔀 Easily Confused

Pair / Group

Distinguishing Feature

Toxicity vs Exposure vs Hazard

Toxicity: capacity of the pesticide to cause injury or illness — combination of chemical properties + concentration. Exposure: pesticide gets onto or into the body via skin, lungs, mouth, or eyes. Hazard (risk): probability of harm from the COMBINATION of toxicity and exposure. Hazard = Toxicity x Exposure.

Acute vs Chronic vs Delayed effects

Acute: harm from a single exposure event, usually within 24 hours. Measured by LD50 + LC50. Chronic: harm from small, repeated doses over time (test typically 2 years = lifetime of test animal). NO single measure equivalent to LD50. Delayed: illnesses appearing weeks/months/years after exposure. Caused by EITHER acute OR chronic exposures. Signal word indicates ONLY acute toxicity.

Local (contact) vs Systemic effects

Local (contact): at the point of contact — skin (dermatitis: itching, redness, rashes, blisters, burns), eyes (swelling, stinging, burning, possibly blindness), nose/mouth/throat (swelling, stinging, burning). Systemic: after absorption + distribution throughout body — cholinesterase inhibition, nerve damage, blood clotting impairment, cancers, reproductive problems, organ damage (liver, kidney), hormonal effects.

Allergic effects vs Acute/chronic toxicity

Allergic effects: hypersensitivity reactions in some people — dermatitis, blisters, hives, itching eyes, asthma-like symptoms, life-threatening shock. CANNOT predict who will develop allergies. Allergic reactivity does NOT predict sensitivity to chronic/delayed effects (different mechanisms).

Dermal vs Ocular vs Inhalation vs Oral

Dermal: skin — primary route (97% during spraying); warm/moist body areas absorb more; oil-based formulations penetrate readily. Ocular: eyes — extremely absorbent, blood vessels close to surface, very rapid bloodstream entry; eye corrosion can cause blindness. Inhalation: lungs — rapid bloodstream entry; aspiration of EC/oil solvents during vomiting may be fatal. Oral: mouth — splashes during mixing/loading, eating/drinking/smoking with contaminated hands, accidental ingestion (children with rodent baits, food-container storage).

LD50 vs LC50

LD50 (Lethal DOSE 50%): dose required to kill 50% of test population. Expressed in mg toxicant per kg body weight (mg/kg). Oral LD50 (feeding) and Dermal LD50 (skin contact). LC50 (Lethal CONCENTRATION 50%): concentration in air or water required to kill 50% of test population. Expressed as parts per million or mg/liter. Common for fish + aquatic organisms, and inhalation toxicity.

DANGER-POISON vs DANGER (no skull)

DANGER-POISON (Hazard Class I systemic): "POISON" in RED + skull + crossbones; oral LD50 trace to 50 mg/kg; few drops lethal to 150-lb person; PELIGRO Spanish. Most fumigants, some insecticides + rodenticides, few herbicides. DANGER (without skull/POISON): Hazard Class I CONTACT injury — eye/skin/lung damage WORSE than systemic toxicity (LD50). Some herbicides, insecticides, antimicrobials.

WARNING vs CAUTION

WARNING (Hazard Class II; AVISO Spanish): moderately toxic; oral LD50 50-500 mg/kg; 1 teaspoon to 1 ounce fatal to 150-lb person — OR moderate eye/skin/respiratory irritation. CAUTION (Hazard Class III): slightly toxic; oral LD50 500-5,000 mg/kg — OR irritation of eyes/skin/respiratory tract.

Body absorption rates by region

Warm + moist areas absorb MOST: groin, armpits, head, neck, backs of hands, tops of feet. Palms + forearms absorb LESS but get the MOST exposure. Cuts, abrasions, rashes INCREASE absorption regardless of region. Time of contact matters too — longer contact = more absorbed.

Cholinesterase inhibitors: OP vs Carbamate

BOTH organophosphate and carbamate insecticides inhibit cholinesterase enzyme (controls nerve impulse transmission). They are the ONLY pesticide classes causing cholinesterase inhibition. Both have ANTIDOTES — administered ONLY by medical professionals. Anticoagulant-type rodenticides also have antidotes. No other class of pesticide has true antidotes.

Cholinesterase poisoning: Mild vs Moderate vs Severe

Mild: fatigue, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, excessive sweating/salivation, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea. Moderate: inability to walk, weakness, chest discomfort, CONSTRICTION OF PUPILS, mild symptoms more severe. Severe: unconsciousness, SEVERE pupil constriction, muscle twitching, running nose + drooling, breathing difficulty, COMA + DEATH.

Pesticide poisoning vs Heat stress symptoms

Heat stress symptoms RESEMBLE pesticide poisoning (fatigue, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, confusion). PPE may INCREASE heat stress risk by restricting sweat evaporation. KEY heatstroke distinguisher: LACK OF SWEATING + body temperature above 105 degrees F. Severe heat stress kills 10%+ of victims.

Liver vs Kidneys vs Fatty deposits

Liver: primary organ that transforms toxic substances to nontoxic/less-toxic forms; makes them more water-soluble. Kidneys: filter water-soluble substances from blood into urine. Fatty deposits: store substances that cannot be made water-soluble — including breast milk. Pre-1970 pesticides: months-to-years elimination. Modern pesticides: hours-to-days elimination.

NEVER induce vomiting (3 cases)

(1) Victim is UNCONSCIOUS or CONVULSING; (2) victim swallowed CORROSIVE poison — strong alkali/acid burns going down AND coming up; (3) victim swallowed an EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATE or OIL SOLUTION — petroleum solvents may be fatally aspirated into lungs during vomiting. Otherwise, induce vomiting ONLY if the label says to.

Activated charcoal vs Antidotes

Activated charcoal: adsorbs many chemicals; pharmaceutical grade from drugstores; consult medical professional or poison control BEFORE administering. Antidotes: extremely dangerous if misused; available only for OP/carbamate insecticides + anticoagulant rodenticides; prescribed and administered ONLY by qualified medical professional; NEVER used to prevent poisoning.

⚠️ Toxicity Categories + Signal Words Quick Reference

Class / Signal Word

Acute Toxicity

Lethal Dose / Key Indicators

Class I — DANGER-POISON

Highly toxic by oral, dermal, or inhalation route. Skull + crossbones symbol; POISON in RED letters; PELIGRO Spanish.

Acute oral LD50 = TRACE to 50 mg/kg. A FEW DROPS taken orally can be FATAL to a 150-lb person. Most fumigants, some insecticides + rodenticides, few herbicides.

Class I — DANGER (no skull/POISON)

Highly toxic by CONTACT — assigned because permanent or severe damage to skin, eyes, or lungs is more dangerous than systemic LD50.

Risk of irreversible eye damage at low exposures. Some herbicides, insecticides, antimicrobials.

Class II — WARNING

Moderately toxic. AVISO Spanish.

Acute oral LD50 = 50 to 500 mg/kg. 1 TEASPOON to 1 OUNCE (2 tablespoons) fatal to 150-lb person — OR moderate eye/skin/respiratory irritation. Signal word alone does not indicate which (consult precautionary statements).

Class III — CAUTION

Slightly toxic.

Acute oral LD50 = 500 to 5,000 mg/kg — OR irritation of eyes, skin, or respiratory tract.

Class IV — (no signal word required)

Very low toxicity.

Not required to display a signal word, although many manufacturers still include CAUTION. Section 25(b) minimum-risk pesticides also lack signal words.

🆘 First Aid by Exposure Route Quick Reference

Route

First Aid Procedure

Critical Don'ts / Notes

SKIN (Dermal)

(1) Remove ALL contaminated clothing IMMEDIATELY. (2) Wash affected area + hair with water and soap. (3) SHOWERING preferred over bathing (avoid prolonged contact with residues). (4) Gently dry; wrap in loose cloth or blanket if needed. (5) For chemical burns: cover loosely with clean soft cloth.

AVOID harsh scrubbing — damages skin and INCREASES absorption. Do NOT use ointments, greases, powders, or other medications unless instructed by medical authority. Wash + store contaminated clothing SEPARATELY from family laundry; if heavily contaminated, dispose in sealed plastic bag at hazardous waste collection.

EYES (Ocular)

(1) Hold eyelid OPEN. (2) Gently DRIP clean water ACROSS the eye (NOT directly into) — or use eyewash dispenser. (3) Continuously rinse for 15 MINUTES. (4) Flush UNDER the eyelid to remove debris. (5) If only one eye affected, avoid contaminating the other. (6) Cover with clean cloth; seek medical attention immediately.

Eyes absorb pesticides VERY rapidly into bloodstream. Some pesticides cause irreversible eye damage. Do NOT use chemicals or drugs in the wash water unless instructed by medical professional or poison control.

INHALATION (Lungs)

(1) IMMEDIATELY CARRY victim (do NOT walk) to fresh air. (2) Have victim lie down + loosen clothing. (3) Keep warm + quiet (don't let chilled or overheated). (4) If convulsing: protect head, turn head to side, watch breathing — do NOT insert anything into mouth during seizure. (5) Keep chin up to keep airway open. (6) Give artificial respiration if breathing stops.

Do NOT attempt to rescue someone in an enclosed contaminated area unless wearing appropriate PPE (respirator). Warn other people in the area of the danger.

MOUTH / Oral

If pesticide is in mouth but NOT swallowed: rinse mouth with plenty of water; give up to 1 quart of milk or water. If swallowed: most critical decision is whether to induce vomiting (label tells you). To induce: give victim 2+ glasses of water; victim kneeling forward or on side; finger or blunt spoon at back of throat.

NEVER INDUCE VOMITING IF: (1) victim is UNCONSCIOUS or having CONVULSIONS; (2) swallowed CORROSIVE poison (strong alkali/acid); (3) swallowed EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATE or OIL SOLUTION (aspirating petroleum solvents into lungs may be fatal). Do NOT use saltwater. Do NOT use carbonated beverages. Collect some vomit for the doctor (chemical analysis). Activated charcoal: consult medical professional first. Ipecac syrup is NO LONGER recommended.

General first aid principles

Get medical advice IMMEDIATELY for unusual/unexplained symptoms within 24 hours of pesticide exposure. Take the LABEL with you (or duplicate copy or EPA reg #). Always have clean water available for rinsing. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

Protect YOURSELF first with PPE (especially respirator for enclosed area) before assisting. AAPCC Poison Help: 800-222-1222 (24/7). NPIC: 800-858-7378. Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435. 911 for emergency response. Post these numbers near phones and in service vehicles.

💡 Memory Hooks

The risk equation: "Hazard = Toxicity x Exposure." Reduce either factor (or both) to lower the risk.

Mixing/loading is the danger zone: "Greatest hazard during mixing and loading the concentrate." Most toxic form, highest exposure.

Skin is 97 percent: "Skin is the primary route." Most pesticide entry during spraying is dermal.

Lower LD50 = more toxic: "Less drug to kill, more dangerous the drug." Counterintuitive — fewer mg/kg means deadlier.

LD50 ranges by signal word: "Trace-to-50, 50-500, 500-5000." DANGER-POISON, WARNING, CAUTION respectively.

Lethal dose mnemonic: "Few drops, teaspoon-to-ounce." For DANGER-POISON and WARNING in a 150-lb person.

Cholinesterase classes: "Organophosphate and carbamate — only those two." The only insecticide classes that inhibit cholinesterase.

Constricted pupils: "Pinpoint pupils mean cholinesterase poisoning." Diagnostic sign of moderate-to-severe OP/carbamate exposure.

Eye flush technique: "DRIP across — not pour into. Fifteen full minutes." Eye first aid rule.

Three NEVER-induce-vomiting cases: "Unconscious, corrosive, or oil-based." Three contraindications.

Take the label: "Always go to the hospital with the label." Medical professional needs the active ingredients to treat correctly.

Heatstroke vs poisoning: "Lack of sweat + over 105 degrees F = heatstroke." Distinguishes from pesticide symptoms.

Poison Help: "800-222-1222 — 24 hours a day." AAPCC line.

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