According to environmental protection agency (EPA) PESTICIDE Is any substance or mixture of substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.

ADVANTAGES

• —    Convenient use
•        Economical
• —Quick control of pest
• —  Reduce pest population to extremely low levels

DISADVANTAGES

• —  Potential to harm humans
• —  Environmental pollution
• —  Destroy beneficial organisms

Routes of entry

—  For pesticide to cause illness or death in a worker or citizen, they must get into the body: through the skin, the lungs or the alimentary tract.

SKIN

—  If a pesticide comes in contact with the skin, it can pass quickly into the dermis and epidermis into the blood. This is the most common route of entry into the body, as contamination of the skin can occur easily and often goes unnoticed.                                

LUNGS

—  Pesticide that is present in the air is breathed into the lungs, then passes from the lungs into the blood and is carried all over the body.

lung contact may occur:

1. during mixing or preparation of pesticides foe spraying
2. during spraying
3. when entering a treated area before the dust settles or the spray dries.

ALIMENTARY TRACT          

—  When pesticides are taken directly into the mouth and swallowed, they enter the body from the stomach and intestines. While most people would not intentionally eat or drink a pesticide, they may do so by:

1. consuming food or drink contaminated by spills of pesticide or by being stored near pesticide
2. consuming food or drink that has been prepared or stored in empty pesticide containers             
3. handling and eating food with hands that are contaminated with pesticide

PREVENTIVE HEALTH MEASURES

LAVELING

—  there are many types of pesticides they act differently on the pests and some are more hazardous to man and others.

—  valuable information is given is given on the label of each pesticide container. The label should be read carefully before the pesticide is used and all recommendations and precautions should be followed/observed.

—  Small packages should also be properly labelled and repacked in easily identifiable containers.

—  When seeking medical attention for pesticide poisoning, be sure to take the label or container to the medical center because it gives important information on treatment to be given.                      

STORAGE               

—  Pesticides which are moderately/extremely hazardous should be so stored that only authorized persons can have access to them.

—  Spillages often occur in storage /repacking rooms, floors should be clean and impervious. This room must be cleaned up with care and fitted with secure locks.

—  Washing facilities should be available and eating, drinking and smoking should be strictly prohibited in the area.

Work practice                       

—  the way in which people work can determine the severity of the risk to pesticide poisoning. Where there is great risk of accidental contamination, ensure the provision of washing facilities at the work place. Additional shower baths in the factory may have to be installed.

—  Workers using pesticides should be thoroughly trained in their method of use and proper application, toxicity, symptoms of poisoning, precautions to be taken, PPE to be worn, protective first aid measures to be taken.

HANDLING CONTAINERS

1. Inspect pesticide containers before handling them. If there are any leak , wear full protective clothing to move and empty the containers and to clean up the pesticide that has been spilled.
2. Avoid damaging containers while handling them.
3. Repacking in containers used for food should be absolutely forbidden.

 https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides/what-pesticide