:  PERSONAL:
    PROTECTIVE '
  EQUIPMENT GUIDE
CHOOSING
CHEMICAL-
RESISTANT
PPE

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    jany pesticide labels instruct the user to
    Iwear personal protective equipment (PPE)
 — clothing and devices that protect the body
 from contact with pesticides or pesticide
 residues. Some labels require the use of
 chemical-resistant PPE — items that the
 pesticide cannot pass through during the time
 it takes to complete the task. The labels of a
 few pesticides, .such as some fumigants,
 prohibit the use of chemical-resistant PPE.

     Most chemical-resistant PPE items are
 plastic or rubber. But not all these materials
 are equally resistant to all pesticides and
 under all conditions.
                               •**.
 Chemical Resistance
     Three factors affect a material's chemical
 resistance: the exposure time, the exposure
 situation, and the chemical properties of the
 pesticide product to which the material is
 exposed.

 Exposure time
     Not all types of materials that are resis-
 tant to a particulajtpesticide.will,prpyide ,.„  „;
 protection for the'same amount of time. Some
 will keep therpesticlde. out.for a long timei" ~""it
 Others will allow the pesticide to reach the
 skin fairly quickly. Disposable plastic gloves,
rshoe covers, or aprons may provide enough^-'-^-f
 protection for tasks that can Be done in a few~^
 minutes. Longer jobs usually require items
 made of a more resistant material.

    A pesticide begins to move into a material
 as soon as it gets on the surface.  The pesticide
 continues to move into and through the
 material until the pesticide is removed. Help
 prevent pesticides from getting through
 chemical-resistant items, such as gloves,
 boots, and aprons, by regularly rinsing off
 pesticides that are splashed or spilled on
-them.   —		
    Any plastic or rubber material is
 resistant to dry pesticides and to .water-
 based pesticides (those that use water as
 the only diluent or solvent).

    Dry pesticides include dusts, granules,
 pellets, and some baits. Water-based pesti-
 cides include wettable powders, soluble
 powders, some solutions, dry flowables (water-
 dispersible granules), and microencapsulated
 pesticides.

    Chemical resistance to non-wafer-
 based liquid pesticides depends on the
 type of solvent in the formulation.

    Liquid pesticides, that are not water-based
 may be emulsifiable concentrates, ultra-low-
 volume and low-volume concentrates, low-
 concentrate solutions, flowablesj aerosols, and
 invert emulsions. Common solvents are
 xylene, fuel oil, petroleum distillates, and
 alcohol. If the label does not indicate the types
 of materials that are chemical-resistant to the
 pesticide product, select sturdy barrier-
 laminate, butyl, or nitrile materials. Then
 watch for _signs that the material is not
"chemical-resistant.

"•-•'  -Sometimes it is easy to see when a plastic
 or rubber is not resistant to a pesticide. The
..material may: ;   .
    B change color,

    H become soft or spongy,

    S swell or bubble,

    13 dissolve or become jelly-like,

    H crack or get holes,

    H become stiff or brittle.          *'!_

    If any of these changes occur, discard the
 item and choose another type of material.

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    Chemical resistance is often stated in
terms of exposure time. For example, neo-
prene may be resistant to one solvent for 30
minutes or less and to another solvent for
more than 4 hours.

Exposure situation
    A chemical-resistant material will not
continue to be protective if it is damaged. For
tasks that involve handling sharp objects or
walking through rough terrain, a sturdy
material would be necessary to resist punc-
tures or tears.
 Type'of chemical
    No single material can protect against all

a" material depends" on whether the pesticide is
liquid or dry, and what diluents or solvents
are used.

Choosing Chemical-

Resistant Materials
    The pesticide label may state what materi-
als are chemical-resistant to the pesticide
product. If it does not, look for another source
of help' in making a selection7The Environ- ~
mental Protection Agency, the United States
Department of Agriculture - Cooperative
Extension Service, pesticide producers, or PPE
dealers may offer guidance.
                                                           Unless the pesticide.label directs other-
                                                       wise, do not use items that are made of— or
                                                       lined with — absorbent materials such as
                                                       cotton, leather, and canvas. These materials
                                                       are not chemical resistant, and they are
                                                       difficult or impossible to clean after a pesticide
                                                       gets on them. Even dry formulations can move
                                                       quickly through woven materials and may
                                                       remain in the fibers after several launderings.

                                                           Gloves and footwear made of polyvinyl
                                                       chloride (PVC) or rubber (butyl, nitrile,
                                                       neoprene or natural rubber) must be at least
                                                       14 mils thick.
                                                         Pesticides can leak through stitching1
                                                      holes and. gaps.in.seams,,,For,_chemical  ,,.
                                                      resistance,:'choose^FE with sealed seamsT
                                                                           materials
                                                      good choice for many situations.
                                                          Barrier-lami-
                                                      nate (Silver Shield®/
                                                      4-H®) gloves may be
                                                      uncomfortable and
                                                      clumsy to wear for
                                                      some kinds of tasks.
                                                      Try wearing fitted
                                                      rubber gloves over
                                                      barrier-laminate
                                                      gloves for comfort,
                                                      protection and
                                                      dexterity.

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