Section 3: Safety Practices

Glossary

Lesson 2: Exposure to Chemicals


Fertilizers, pesticides, sanitizers, cleaners, crop preservatives, fuels, and solvents are all chemicals. They come in many forms and strengths and serve an important purpose in any plant production practice - be it a garden, a greenhouse, or a farm.

It's important to realize that all such chemicals are toxic by design and should not be taken lightly. They all present potential hazards, unless you protect yourself appropriately.

For more information about Chemical Safety, click here.
©iStock

Symptoms of Exposure to Chemicals

The major symptoms of chemical exposure are:

  • nausea

  • headaches

  • chills

  • stomach cramps

  • diarrhea

  • fever

  • fainting

  • death


The results of exposure to chemicals can be immediate, or they can take weeks, months, or even years to show up.


Chemicals may appear innocent enough, but they consist of complex formulas that can affect your health in the short or long term if you are not careful.


©iStock

Entry of Chemicals into the Body

A chemical can be in the form of a solid, liquid, vapour, mist, or fume. Because of these diverse forms, chemicals can enter a human body in various ways.

  • Ingestion - Swallowing foods contaminated with chemicals can happen repeatedly without one being aware of it.

  • Absorption - Liquids or mists that remain in prolonged contact with skin are easily absorbed into the body.

  • Inhalation - Breathing chemicals in is a quick way to damage one's lungs, but it's also a way for chemicals to enter the bloodstream where they can cause damage to other parts of the body.

  • Injection - Piercing the skin through careless use of equipment or tools with chemical residues is a common injury.



Wear a face mask when using a pesticide sprayer, as shown at left.


Careless use of a syringe is a common source of farm injuries.