TYPES OF EXPOSURE: 

There are 4 ways that toxic materials can be taken into the body.  They are oral, dermal, inhalation and ocular exposures, with dermal being the most common type of exposure

Oral Exposure -  Swallow or ingest a pesticide.   Caused by:

* Not washing hads before eating, drinking smoking or chewing tobacco.

* Mistaking a pesticide for food or drink.

* Accidentally applying pesticides to food.

*  Splashing pesticide into the mouth through carelessness or accident.

Dermal Exposure -  Having pesticide on your skin.  Caused by:

* Not washing hands after handling pesticides or their containers.

* Splashing or spraying pesticides on unprotected skin.

* Applying pesticides in windy weaather.

* Wearing inadequete personal protective equipment while handling pesticides or their containers..

Inhalation Exposure -   Breathing in a pesticide.  Causes are:

*  Prolonged contact with pesticides in closed or poorly vented spaces.

*  Breathing vapors from fumigants and other pesticides.

*  Breathing vapors, dust or mist while handling pesticides without appropriate protective equipment.

*  Inhaling vapors immediately after a pesticide is applied.

* Using the wrong respirator or an improperly fitted respirator, or using filters, cartridges or canisters that are full of chemicals, dust...etc.

Ocular Exposure - Pesticide gets in the eyes.  Causes:

LEVELS OF EXPOSURE:

Acute:  One time case of pesticide exposure.  For example: a spill on the body.  Exposure is usually easy to determine.

Chronic:  Low-level exposure over a longer period of time.  Exposure is usually difficult to determine.

Combination: A combination of the two exposures can be dangerous.  For example, daily exposure to pesticide through contaminated clothing combined with an acute exposure like spilling a pesticide through your skin poses the greatest risk because the body may not be able to deal with the acute exposure.

AVOIDING EXPOSURE:

In order to avoid exposure it is important to afvoid the causes of exposure. For example, by wearing the proper eye protection you can prevent a pesticide from getting in eyes.

*  Wear proper personal protective equipment.

*  If you do start to breathe pesticide mist or dust, move away from that area as quickly as possible and get into fresh air.

*  Use a closed handling system.

*  Maintain and clean personal protective equipment.

*  Wash exposed body parts often to reduce dermal exposure.

*  Read Pesticide labels thoroughly.