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Reducing the risks from pesticides used at home

Learn about the ways of exposure to pesticides used in the home, their health effects, and ways to prevent pests without using pesticides. Protect yourself and your family when using pesticides.

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Reducing the risks from pesticides used at home

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  1. Reducingtherisksfrompesticidesused at home University of Texas at El Paso December, 2009

  2. Youwilllearntoday… The ways of exposure to pesticides used in the home The health effects that appear shortly or long time after exposure to pesticides Ways to prevent pests without using pesticides Ways to reduce exposure when using pesticides

  3. Pesticides are …poisons • That are used to: • Kill pests • Repel (keep away) pests • Control pests • Pests are any animal, plant, insect, mold or fungi that may damage the environment or harm humans.

  4. Pesticides enter to the body by… Breathing: Nose, mouth Absorption: Skin, eyes Swallowing: Mouth

  5. Shortly after contact with a pestide, the following can happen … • Headache • Dizziness • Stomachache • Vomiting • Sweating a lot • Shortness of breath • Runny nose • Drooling • Muscle pains • Asthma attacks

  6. After a long time, contact with pesticides might cause … • Cancer • Birth defects and problems getting pregnant • Hormone and nervous system problems • Asthma

  7. Why children are at greater risk? • Their bodies are still developing • Their natural behavior: crawling, hands to mouth, touching everything, etc. • As compared to adults, children eat, breathe, and drink more according to their weight and height. This can increase the amount of contaminants in their bodies.

  8. Unborn babies can be harmed during pregnancy

  9. The first thing to do is prevent pests!

  10. Clean • Clean often • Deep cleaning behind and under… • Refrigerator • Furniture • Stove • Wash dishes and clean kitchen often • Keep food in covered containers • Take trash out every day • Cover the trash containers

  11. Dry • Use fans in the kitchen and bathroom to keep them dry • Fix leaks • Try to keep water away Seal • Put in screens in windows and doors and keep them in good condition • Fix cracks • Fix holes

  12. The second thing to do is: get rid of pests without pesticides by using… • Glue paper • Traps • Fly swatters • Box trappers

  13. The third thing to do is protect yourself and your family… Before During After … usingpesticides

  14. Before using pesticides… • Buy pesticides in the form of gel, liquid, or solid • Buy the right pesticide for the pest • Buy pesticides with a label with the basic 5 important pieces of information • Do not use pesticides that you don’t know what they are that could be dangerous, such as polvo de avión

  15. During the use of pesticides: • Read and follow instructions on the label • Wear gloves, long sleeves, pants • Use only the amount needed or recommended • Do not use when children or pregnant women are present • Apply in places only where pests are • Do not get pesticides on food, dishes, toys, tables, furniture, clothes, etc. • Do not let children to touch or breathe in pesticides 

  16. After using pesticides… • Wash or take a shower after applying pesticides • Open up windows or use fans to ventilate the house • Close pesticide containers tightly • Store pesticides where children can not reach them • Store pesticides in its container and never in another container • Throw away empty containers and do not use them again

  17. What are thebasicsectionsonthelabel?

  18. The basic sections are: • Ingredients • Warnings about health effects • First aid information • Instructions • The registration number starts like this: • EPA Reg… (if from the U.S.) • RSCO-DOM … (if from México)

  19. Reduce the contamination of the air in your home… By using pesticides in the form of solid, liquid, or gel

  20. DO NOT USE…

  21. Even if pesticides do not smell, they can contaminate … • The air in your home • Food • Dishes • Water • Toys • Tables • Furniture • Clothes

  22. Do you suspect a poisoning? What to do if you live in… México 1) Get medical attention right away 2) Bring the pesticide container or label United States 1) Call the Poison Control Center . It’s free, 24 hours a day all year, and in Spanish: 1-800-222-1222 Have the pesticide container or label when calling for help 2) Or get medical attention right away

  23. Insectrepellents and children

  24. How to use insect repellents safely with children • Do not let children to put repellent on by themselves • Adults put repellent on their hands first and then put it on the child’s body • Use only on the naked skin of arms and legs • Do not use repellents under the clothes • Do not use repellents on wounds or cuts • Do not use repellents in the eyes, mouth, or hands of children • Put repellents on children in ventilated areas • Wash the treated parts of the body with soap when no longer needed

  25. What are therecommendedactions to to use theinsectrepellentssafely?

  26. What to do when pesticides are used nearby your home • Take in theclothesfromtheclothesline • Closewindows • Avoidusingthe air conditionerduringapplication of pesticides • Covertoysthat are outside • Washtoysbeforeusingthem • Take off shoesbeforeenteringthe home or use a doormat to wipe off shoes

  27. Mark the following if you… • Are sure of the answer  • Have any doubt about the answer ? • Do not know the answer 

  28. You learned…

  29. You learned…

  30. You learned…

  31. You learned…

  32. What to do if a poisoning is suspected? In México: • Seek medical help and bring the pesticide container or label In the United States: • Seek medical help or call Poison Center to 1-800-222-1222 • Call is free, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, speak Spanish • Have the pesticide container or the label

  33. Something to reflect about: Before this talk, have you ever thought of the risks to your health caused by the pesticides you use? What are the challenges you may face to do the recommended actions? What issues discussed today impacted you the most?

  34. Thankyouverymuch! University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Center for Environmental Resource Management El Paso, Texas, U.S. Patricia M. Juárez-Carrillo (915) 747-6649, pjuarez@utep.edu www.cerm.utep.edu Funds by: Border Environment Cooperation Commission, Grant # TAA08-042 Acknowledgments Thanks to Amy K. Liebman from the Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) for her expertise and advice in preparing this material. A note of appreciation to the professors Patrick L. Gurian (Drexel University), Sara A. Quandt (Wake Forest University), Rodolfo Rincones (UTEP), and Sharon Thompson (UTEP) for their review and helpful recommendations to improve the lessons. Finally, a very special recognition to Claudia Y. Laffont C. and the community health workers of Aqua XXI, AYUDA, Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso, Gente a Favor de Gente, and SADEC in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands for their support and guidance during the testing of this material.

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