As a farm worker, you are constantly exposed to pesticides in the field. There are three main ways your body is exposed to pesticides in the field:
1. Pesticides can get on your skin
2. Pesticides can get in your mouth or lungs by inhaling it
3. Pesticides can get in your eyes
There are short-term and long-term health effects of pesticide exposure. Long-term exposure can have negative health effects like cause cancer, infertility, or nerve damage. (3) Some chemicals have immediate but short risk period on your health. Other chemicals are more of a health risk if you are exposed to them for a long time. Chemical spills can cause skin and eye injuries. Poisoning and death can occur if pesticides are accidentally ingested.
Health Risks of Specific Chemicals
Again, it is very important to know what type of chemicals that you work with. If you want to know the specific health risk of a chemical, here is a link to a “chemical pocket guide" that explains common names of the chemical, how you can be exposed to it, what you can do once you’re exposed to it, and what to do when you need first aid help.
