THE RISK OF

CHEMICAL
EXPOSURE
IN AGRICULTURE
PRACTICES
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
•To characterize the risk
associated with
agricultural chemicals
•To identify the routes of
exposure
•To minimize chemical
exposure
 AREA OF INTEREST:

HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

COURSES TAUGHT:
TENGKU HANIDZA ISMAIL
DEPARTMENT OF ENV HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEM IN
SCIENCES ENV SCIENCE
UNIVERSITI PUTRA PRINCIPLES OF BIO IN
MALAYSIA ENV SCIENCE
603-89466750 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
thanidza@fsas.upm.edu
 PESTICIDES
All pesticides are
biologically active. If
handled incorrectly
or carelessly, they
can be dangerous to
human.
EXPOSURE AT WORK
Although exposure to
chemicals in agricultural
activities is difficult to
avoid, the risk can be
reduced.
 WORK ACTIVITIES
All handling activities may
pose a threat: mixing,
applying, loading,
equipment cleaning,
storage, transportation,
disposal, and spills.
HOW TO REDUCE RISK?
Three important areas when
it comes to reducing
risk:(1) proper storage and
disposal (2) proper handling
procedures and (3) proper
use of personal protection
equipment (PPE)
 RISKS OF EXPOSURE
Handle & mix Very high
Rinse Very high
containers
Apply indoors Med- very high
Clean-up Med – hi
Enter (48 hrs) Low-very high
Apply outdoors Low – med
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
Chemicals enter the body
through: Inhalation of
spray vapors/droplets;
unbroken skin; wounds
(cuts, grazes); oral
ingestion (by mouth with
food, drink or cigarettes).
EXPOSURE OCCURS WHEN
CHEMICALS ARE REMOVED
FROM STORAGE AREAS

CHEMICALS
 EXPOSURE OCCURS WHEN
EMPTY BAGS/ CONTAINERS
ARE BURNED

SMOKE NO
CONTAINS MASK
CHEMICALS

BARE
HANDS
 80-85% OF EXPOSURE
IS DURING MIXING …

NO COVER

BARE
NO MASK
HANDS
 ….. AND LOADING
CONCENTRATE

NO
MASK

BARE
CHEMICALS HANDS
FIELD APPLICATION : 15-
20% OF THE EXPOSURE

CHEMICAL
MIST
DERMAL EXPOSURE:90-100%
OF THE TOTAL EXPOSURE
(70% ON THE HANDS
AND FOREARMS)

Chemical
powder
 INHALATION: DUST
0.1% EXPOSURE

POWDER
INCREASES
THE RISK
OF
EXPOSURE
CAN WE MINIMIZE
EXPOSURE?

USE SAFER PHYSICAL FORMS

AND PROPER PACKAGING
SOLUBLE BAGS CAN
REDUCE EXPOSURE
minimize
reduce
dermal
dust
contact

bag
into
tank
 CAN WE PROPER
MINIMIZE METHODS OF
EXPOSURE? PREPARATION
• PUMPING/POUR LIQUID
• SOLUBLE BAGS
• AVOID MIXING POWDER
INTO SLURRY
• CLOSED SYSTEM
 CAN WE MINIMIZE
EXPOSURE?
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENTS (PPEs)
WEARING PROPER
PROTECTIVE CLOTHINGS
REDUCES THE RISK OF
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
 HEADGEAR CHEM RESIST
HOOD/WIDE
BRIM HAT.
CAPS (NOT
ENOUGH TO
PROTECT
CHEM RESIST
GLOVES not FACE, NECK,
LTHR/CLOTH AND EARS)
GLOVES : RETAIN
RESIDUES GLOVES
EYES & FACE COVER
GLASSESS/
GOGGLES

RESPIRATORS/
DUST MASK/
 BODY & FOOT COVER
RUBBER/
PLASTIC
SUITS/
BOOTS /
APRONS
SHOES &
SOCKS
/BOOTIES
BODY COVER

DISPOSABLE
COVERALLS
 MISUSE OF
NO
PPEs GLASSES
NO
HEAD NO
COVER MASK
NO
NO SHOES
GLOVES & SOCKS
MISUSE OF
PPEs

FRONT
NO MUST BE
GLOVES COVERED
 CONCLUSION
Exposure to chemicals can
be prevented or reduced by
using caution, common
sense, good safety habits,
protective clothing and
knowledge on pesticide.