What are signs and symptoms of exposure Inhalation is the most common route of exposure. Burning, or irritation of the nose or throat. Eye irritation. Headache, nausea, dizziness. Tremors, slurred speech, loss of muscle coordination. Similar symptoms may appear with heat stress, other chemical exposure or health problem. Some illustrations courtesy of Farmworker Justice Fund. If you think you are exposed to a fumigant or other pesticide: • MOVE UPWIND to an area with fresh air. • If you believe there is an emergency, exit the area and CALL 911. • Call the Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222 • Contact your doctor, a clinic or your employer (if job related). • You have the right to report unsafe work conditions without being punished or fired. In California, call — 1-87-Pestline (1-877-378-5463) to report a pesticide illness or file a complaint. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Southwest/Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (866) EPA-WEST www.epa.gov/region9 O Printed on 100% recycled paper, more than 50% post-consumer content - process chlorine-free. What Residents in Agricultural Communities Should Know About Soil Fumigants &EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Southwest/Region 9 EPA-909-F-12-001 September 2012 ------- Why are we talking about soil fumigants? • Fumigants may be used in your community. • Fumigants can affect your health. • There have been accidents where fumigant gas drifts into nearby neighborhoods. • If there is an accident, people who live or work near a treated field could be exposed to fumigant gas. Torn farps may lead to fumigant gas being released into the air. • Fumigated fields are often covered with plastic tarps - but not every field with plastic has been fumigated. • When properly applied, people should not be affected by soil fumigants. Soil fumigants are pesticides that... • are applied as a gas, or form a gas shortly after application. • are applied to soil before crops or trees are planted. • move through the soil killing weeds, bugs, and plant disease. • are applied with tractors or hand probes, and in irrigation water or sprinklers. Agricultural Soil Fumigants Chemical Name (Trade Name) • 1,3-Dichloropropene (Telone, Inline) • Chloropicrin (Pic-Clor, Tri-Clor) • Dazomet (Basamid) • Metam Sodium (Vapam, Sectagon) • Metam Potassium (K-Pam, Sectagon) • Methyl Bromide (Tri-Con, Terr-O-Gas, Meth-O-Gas) What you can do to avoi< exposure to fumigants: BE AWARE - if you smell chemicals, or have symptoms, leave the area and notify local authorities. LOOK for posted signs. NEVER walk through a treated field. NEVER walk through a buffer zone. DO NOT ENTER/ NO ENTRE FUMIGANT. PRODUCT_ Fumigant BUFFER ZONE This sign marks the edge of a buffer zone - an area around a field that is off limits during the fumigant application and for at least 2 days after the application is complete. This sign means that the field is being fumigated. DO NOT ENTER. ------- |