Pesticide Safety, Toxicology and First Aid
Pesticide Safety, Toxicology and First Aid
This domain tests toxicity measures, exposure routes, personal protective equipment and emergency response. Safety questions reward precise sequence, not vague caution.
Core rules
- Acute toxicity is expressed as LD50 (mg/kg body weight); a lower value means a more toxic product. WHO classes run from Ia (extremely hazardous) to U (unlikely to present acute hazard).
- Exposure routes are dermal, inhalation, oral and ocular. Dermal exposure is common during mixing and spraying.
- PPE includes gloves, coverall, boots, goggles and a respirator rated for the product; check the label.
- First aid: move the person to fresh air, remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with soap and water, and flush eyes for at least 15 minutes. Do not induce vomiting after swallowing a solvent-based product.
- Atropine is a medical treatment for organophosphate and carbamate poisoning; it must be given by a clinician.
Worked example
A sprayer operator reports sweating, dizziness and small pupils after an organophosphate spray. Reasoning: these are cholinergic signs. Remove him from exposure, wash contaminated skin, keep him calm and call emergency medical help. Do not give atropine yourself; tell the clinician which product and batch were used.
Traps
Inducing vomiting, reusing pesticide containers, storing products with food, and delaying medical help all cost marks and lives.
Key distinction
Wash skin and flush eyes; do not induce vomiting for hydrocarbon formulations.