Women in Agriculture

Lesson 34 : Pesticides Related Health Hazards And Preventive Measures

Pesticides related health hazards and preventive measures

Farming activities that are being performed by women involve higher musculo skeletal load, especially excessive spinal load due to awkward work posture over extended period of time. This can lead to different types of occupational health hazards that must be averted or minimized in view of reproductive and nurturing roles of women. Following suggestions are aimed at helping women to minimize health hazards while performing different activities.

Pesticides related Health Hazards
The rural women being producers, protectors, processors, consumers and storers of farm produce and other food commodities, they are constantly in contact with either pesticides or pesticide residues. Thus they become vulnerable to pesticide related health risks that may be caused on account of pesticide contamination or residual effects of pesticides. The following precautions can be taken by farm women to avoid health hazards of pesticides.

Activity	Precaution
Buying pesticides	Buy sealed containers or packets Buy recommended pesticides Look for ISI quality seal Check expiry date Buy required quantity
Awareness regarding the information on pesticide containers	Diamond shaped figures of different colours indicate the level of chemical toxicity Mildly poisonous Poisonous Highly poisonous Extremely poisonous ISI mark means safety seal for quality product Expiry date indicates the shelf life MRP shows the cost of the product
Application of pesticides	Read instructions before use. Use separate containers for mixing pesticides. Use wooden stick to mix pesticides. Never smell or taste pesticides. Avoid splashing on skin or spilling on clothes. Wear appropriate or protective clothing. Use facemask while spraying. Never blow the clogged nozzles with mouth. Do not mix or spray pesticides with empty stomach. Do not apply pesticides when there are cuts or wounds on the skin. Apply pesticides only in the early morning or late morning or late afternoon hours. Do not spray pesticides against the wind.
Handling of equipment and disposal of containers	Do not use leaky or defective equipment. Open the package/ containers in well ventilated places. Thoroughly clean and wash spraying equipment after use. Bury or burn the empty containers or packets. Do not sell empty containers to hawkers. Do not allow children to play with empty containers. Never reuse empty containers for storing food or water.
Storage of pesticides	Do not store pesticides in kitchen or cattle shed or along with food commodities. Always store in original container. Store in tightly sealed and leak proof containers. Keep out of reach of children Do not store pesticides in bulk quantity.

Points to Remember:

• Protect reproductive health by not handling pesticides during pregnancy.
• Safeguard nurturing role by not feeding baby with pesticide contaminated clothes and hands.
• Never touch or eat food with pesticide- contaminated hands
• Always change clothes and preferably take bath after applying pesticide
• Do not allow children and animals near the sight of pesticide
• Do not work in the field while applying pesticides.
• Do not enter the field for a reasonable period of time after the application of pesticides, at least until the spray has dried.
• Do not harvest vegetables and fruits immediately after applying pesticides.
• Observe the waiting period given in instruction folder. The waiting period differs with crop, type of pesticide and dosage.
• A cautious user can avoid health hazards of pesticide residue and / or contamination.