Pesticide Safety, Hazards, and Personal Protective Equipment
Routes of exposure and PPE
Pesticides enter the body by dermal (skin), inhalation, oral, and ocular routes. Dermal exposure is the most common, so skin protection matters most. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specified on the label and must be worn as directed; the label minimum is the floor, not a suggestion. Know the pieces: gloves (chemical-resistant, not leather or fabric), long sleeves and pants, coveralls, boots, eye protection, and respirators when required. A common trap is assuming a higher signal word always mandates a respirator, or that "waterproof" gloves are chemical-resistant. Follow the label.
Signal words and toxicity
Recognize DANGER-POISON (most toxic, oral LD50 very low), DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION (least toxic). Understand LD50 as the dose lethal to 50% of test animals; lower numbers mean greater toxicity.
Handling and emergencies
Concepts: reading Safety Data Sheets, avoiding drift and runoff, proper mixing/loading, spill cleanup, and decontamination. Know first aid: remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with soap and water, flush eyes for 15 minutes, and call poison control; bring the label.
Traps
Questions test whether you know that PPE must be removed carefully to avoid contamination, that eating/drinking/smoking while handling is prohibited, and that reusing pesticide containers is illegal and dangerous.
Rule of thumb
Dress for the label, wash before breaks, and never store pesticides in food or drink containers.