What are the preventive measures for pesticide poisoning

With heavy exposure to or accidental ingestion of pesticides, a person will experience symptoms such as dizziness, headache, general weakness, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Special symptoms may also appear, including markedly constricted pupils, drowsiness, trembling of the limbs, muscle fasciculation, muscle cramps or severe epileptic-like convulsions, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a tendency to bleed.

Preventive measures for pesticide poisoning

Pesticides help kill pests and increase yields, but improper use can also cause poisoning. To prevent pesticide poisoning, the following points should be observed:

1. People who are frail, ill or elderly, women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and minors should not engage in work involving the handling and use of pesticides.

2. Pesticides must be stored in a safe place (a dedicated warehouse or dedicated cabinet) that is locked, and kept by a designated person. Every pesticide container must have a clear label. The purchase, storage and use of pesticides must follow strict rules. They must not be kept in living rooms or livestock and poultry sheds.

3. The work of preparing pesticide solutions and using pesticides for seed soaking and seed dressing must be assigned to a designated person. The operating site must be far from homes, livestock and poultry sheds, vegetable gardens and drinking water sources. Operations must follow the rules: wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, and wear a hat, latex gloves and a mask to avoid splashing the liquid on the body or inhaling pesticide gas. Tools and containers must be dedicated and must not be used for other purposes. The pesticide solution to be taken to the field for application must be held in a dedicated container and locked.

4. When applying pesticides in the field, strictly follow the operating procedures. Wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, and wear a hat and latex gloves. When spraying, stand on the upwind side and spray while walking backwards. During the operation, do not smoke, do not eat, do not drink water, and do not wipe the face and eyes with contaminated hands. After work, take a bath with soap and change clothes. Contaminated clothes should be soaked in 5% alkaline water for one to two hours before being washed clean. The remaining small amount of pesticide liquid and the wastewater from washing tools should be buried deep underground.

5. Pesticides must not be sprayed one month before the harvest of grain and fruit. If pesticides have been applied in an orchard or vegetable garden, it is best to soak the fruit and vegetables in clean water for one to two hours before eating them.

6. Once pesticide poisoning occurs, if it is poisoning by mouth, immediately perform gastric lavage, induce vomiting at the same time, and use drugs as an antidote. If poisoning occurs by inhalation while spraying pesticides, immediately leave the poisoning environment, quickly take off contaminated outer clothing, and wash the contaminated areas with soapy water and running clean water. If the symptoms are severe, after initial treatment, immediately send the person to the hospital for emergency treatment.