IOWA APPLICATOR 11F STUDY EXAMS GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔C6: Explain the relationship between toxicity, exposure, & hazard - ✔✔TOXICITY is
the degree or extent to which a chemical or substance is poisonous. It is the ability of a
pesticide to cause immediate (acute) or long-term (chronic) injury. EXPOSURE is the
unwanted contact with pesticides, or pesticide residues by people, other organisms, or
the environment. HAZARD, or risk, is the potential or likelihood for harm (injury, illness,
or allergy) to occur because of product toxicity & human exposure. Hazard is a function
of both the toxicity of a product & the amount of exposure.
✔✔C6: Explain the three main types of harmful effects that pesticides can cause in
humans. - ✔✔CONTACT effects; SYSTEMIC effects; ALLERGIC effects. Contact
effects are the most common form of pesticide injury or poisoning. Skin irritation.
Systemic effects occur in areas or affect body functions other than the entry point into
your body. Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness,... Allergic effects involve a susceptibility to a
specific substance. Dermatitis, blisters, itchy eyes, respiratory discomfort, ...
✔✔C6: Describe the four common exposure routes for pesticides into the human body -
✔✔DERMAL exposure: The skin is the primary route of pesticide entry into your body.
Approx 97 percent of all pesticide exposures; OCULAR exposure: The tissues of your
eye are extremely absorbent because blood vessels are very close to the surface of the
eye; ORAL exposure: ; RESPIRATORY exposure: .
✔✔C6: Categorize the differences in pesticide skin absorption based on body region -
✔✔Scalp 32.1 %, Forehead 36.3 %, Ear canal 46.5 %, Forearm 8.6 %, Palm 11.8 %,
Abdomen 18.4 %, Genital 100 %, Foot 13.6 %.
Palms & forearms are slower to absorb pesticides, while warm, moist areas (groin,
armpits, head, neck, backs of hands, & tops of your feet) tend to absorb pesticides to a
a greater degree.
✔✔C6: Interpret LD50 & LC50 values - ✔✔Lethal Dose:: The common method used for
measuring acute toxicity is the LD50. This standard toxicological term refers to the
single lethal dose required to kill 50 % of a test population under a set of conditions
(milligrams of toxicant per kilogram of body weight) [oral & dermal].
Lethal Concentration:: Another commonly used measure of acute toxicity is the LC50.
This is the concentration of a toxicant in air & water required to kill 50 % of the test
population. LC50 is generally expressed as a ratio of the proportional amount of toxicant
to a total volume of water. LC50 is expressed in parts per million (ppm) for gases &
vapors or micrograms per liter (mg/l) for dusts & mists.
✔✔C6: Differentiate between acute & chronic toxicity - ✔✔ACUTE toxicity is a measure
of how poisonous a pesticide is to an animal or human after a SINGLE exposure. Acute
effects occur shortly after exposure, usually within 24 hrs.
, CHRONIC toxicity refers to the harmful effects that occur from REPEATED
EXPOSURES to pesticides over a period of time. Symptoms of chronic poisoning may
not become evident for weeks, months, or even years after exposure.
✔✔C6: Associate the relative toxicity levels of pesticides with the signal word on the
product label - ✔✔Category l - Highly Toxic (Danger or Danger-Poison); Category ll -
Moderately Toxic (Warning); Category lll - Slightly Toxic (Caution); Category lV -
Relatively Nontoxic (Caution or no signal word).
✔✔C6: Describe some appropriate first aid for pesticide exposure - ✔✔Be sure medical
personnel are advised of possible pesticide contamination, the label should always be
given to medical providers, if you are unable to take the label to the physician, provide
at least the following information: name of pesticide, active ingredient, EPA registration
number, & manufacturer of the pesticide;1) Immediately remove all contaminated
clothing; 2) Wash the affected area with water & soap, then rinse well; 3) Gently dry the
affected area & wrap it in loose cloth or a blanket, if necessary; 4) If the skin has
chemical burns, cover the area loosely with a clean, soft cloth, avoid ointments,
greases, powders, etc.
✔✔C6: Describe some general signs & symptoms of pesticide poisoning -
✔✔Examples: borates (insecticides) tend to be irritating to the skin, nose, & respiratory
system; Organophosphate & carbamate insecticides may cause blurred vision,
excessive sweating, & salivation, muscle twitches, chest discomfort, constriction of the
pupil of the eye, & other symptoms that could ultimately result in respiratory failure &
death; Synthetic pyrethroid insecticides can cause nausea, dizziness, weakness,
nervousness, and eye & skin irritation; Some herbicides are irritating to the skin &
mucous membranes, & can cause vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, & confusion;
Anticoagulant-type rodenticides may cause bloody noses & bleeding gums.
✔✔C7: Describe what PPE is - ✔✔(PPE) Personal Protective Equipment is the clothing
& devices worn to protect your body from contact with pesticides or pesticide residues.
✔✔C7: Identify where on the label you would find the minimum PPE required during
pesticide application to be in compliance with regulations - ✔✔Always read the pesticide
labeling to see if it says which PPE materials are resistant to the product; some
pesticide labels include a code letter (A-H) developed by EPA in the PPE description to
help you select chemical resistant gloves, footwear, & aprons; the chart's code letters
are based on the solvents used in the pesticide product, not the pesticide's active
ingredient.
✔✔C7: Explain how to select & properly wear PPE for protection of skin, eyes, &
respiratory tract - ✔✔When choosing coveralls, make sure they are made of sturdy
material such as cotton, polyester, denim, or a non-woven fabric such as Tyvek; 1st) the
coverall needs to fit loosely
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔C6: Explain the relationship between toxicity, exposure, & hazard - ✔✔TOXICITY is
the degree or extent to which a chemical or substance is poisonous. It is the ability of a
pesticide to cause immediate (acute) or long-term (chronic) injury. EXPOSURE is the
unwanted contact with pesticides, or pesticide residues by people, other organisms, or
the environment. HAZARD, or risk, is the potential or likelihood for harm (injury, illness,
or allergy) to occur because of product toxicity & human exposure. Hazard is a function
of both the toxicity of a product & the amount of exposure.
✔✔C6: Explain the three main types of harmful effects that pesticides can cause in
humans. - ✔✔CONTACT effects; SYSTEMIC effects; ALLERGIC effects. Contact
effects are the most common form of pesticide injury or poisoning. Skin irritation.
Systemic effects occur in areas or affect body functions other than the entry point into
your body. Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness,... Allergic effects involve a susceptibility to a
specific substance. Dermatitis, blisters, itchy eyes, respiratory discomfort, ...
✔✔C6: Describe the four common exposure routes for pesticides into the human body -
✔✔DERMAL exposure: The skin is the primary route of pesticide entry into your body.
Approx 97 percent of all pesticide exposures; OCULAR exposure: The tissues of your
eye are extremely absorbent because blood vessels are very close to the surface of the
eye; ORAL exposure: ; RESPIRATORY exposure: .
✔✔C6: Categorize the differences in pesticide skin absorption based on body region -
✔✔Scalp 32.1 %, Forehead 36.3 %, Ear canal 46.5 %, Forearm 8.6 %, Palm 11.8 %,
Abdomen 18.4 %, Genital 100 %, Foot 13.6 %.
Palms & forearms are slower to absorb pesticides, while warm, moist areas (groin,
armpits, head, neck, backs of hands, & tops of your feet) tend to absorb pesticides to a
a greater degree.
✔✔C6: Interpret LD50 & LC50 values - ✔✔Lethal Dose:: The common method used for
measuring acute toxicity is the LD50. This standard toxicological term refers to the
single lethal dose required to kill 50 % of a test population under a set of conditions
(milligrams of toxicant per kilogram of body weight) [oral & dermal].
Lethal Concentration:: Another commonly used measure of acute toxicity is the LC50.
This is the concentration of a toxicant in air & water required to kill 50 % of the test
population. LC50 is generally expressed as a ratio of the proportional amount of toxicant
to a total volume of water. LC50 is expressed in parts per million (ppm) for gases &
vapors or micrograms per liter (mg/l) for dusts & mists.
✔✔C6: Differentiate between acute & chronic toxicity - ✔✔ACUTE toxicity is a measure
of how poisonous a pesticide is to an animal or human after a SINGLE exposure. Acute
effects occur shortly after exposure, usually within 24 hrs.
, CHRONIC toxicity refers to the harmful effects that occur from REPEATED
EXPOSURES to pesticides over a period of time. Symptoms of chronic poisoning may
not become evident for weeks, months, or even years after exposure.
✔✔C6: Associate the relative toxicity levels of pesticides with the signal word on the
product label - ✔✔Category l - Highly Toxic (Danger or Danger-Poison); Category ll -
Moderately Toxic (Warning); Category lll - Slightly Toxic (Caution); Category lV -
Relatively Nontoxic (Caution or no signal word).
✔✔C6: Describe some appropriate first aid for pesticide exposure - ✔✔Be sure medical
personnel are advised of possible pesticide contamination, the label should always be
given to medical providers, if you are unable to take the label to the physician, provide
at least the following information: name of pesticide, active ingredient, EPA registration
number, & manufacturer of the pesticide;1) Immediately remove all contaminated
clothing; 2) Wash the affected area with water & soap, then rinse well; 3) Gently dry the
affected area & wrap it in loose cloth or a blanket, if necessary; 4) If the skin has
chemical burns, cover the area loosely with a clean, soft cloth, avoid ointments,
greases, powders, etc.
✔✔C6: Describe some general signs & symptoms of pesticide poisoning -
✔✔Examples: borates (insecticides) tend to be irritating to the skin, nose, & respiratory
system; Organophosphate & carbamate insecticides may cause blurred vision,
excessive sweating, & salivation, muscle twitches, chest discomfort, constriction of the
pupil of the eye, & other symptoms that could ultimately result in respiratory failure &
death; Synthetic pyrethroid insecticides can cause nausea, dizziness, weakness,
nervousness, and eye & skin irritation; Some herbicides are irritating to the skin &
mucous membranes, & can cause vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, & confusion;
Anticoagulant-type rodenticides may cause bloody noses & bleeding gums.
✔✔C7: Describe what PPE is - ✔✔(PPE) Personal Protective Equipment is the clothing
& devices worn to protect your body from contact with pesticides or pesticide residues.
✔✔C7: Identify where on the label you would find the minimum PPE required during
pesticide application to be in compliance with regulations - ✔✔Always read the pesticide
labeling to see if it says which PPE materials are resistant to the product; some
pesticide labels include a code letter (A-H) developed by EPA in the PPE description to
help you select chemical resistant gloves, footwear, & aprons; the chart's code letters
are based on the solvents used in the pesticide product, not the pesticide's active
ingredient.
✔✔C7: Explain how to select & properly wear PPE for protection of skin, eyes, &
respiratory tract - ✔✔When choosing coveralls, make sure they are made of sturdy
material such as cotton, polyester, denim, or a non-woven fabric such as Tyvek; 1st) the
coverall needs to fit loosely
