Why should care be taken while using weedicides? Suggest steps to prevent contamination. [5 MARKS]
Explanation: 5 Marks
Weedicides are basically used to kill undesired plants.Their toxicity depends entirely on what the farmer uses. The weedicides are sprayed during the vegetative growth of weeds before flowering and seed formation While some are virtually harmless to humans like Roundup, there are some whicih are lethal, like Paraquat -Though Paraquat quickly removes weed competition, controlling most annual weeds and suppressing perennials., but inspite of its fast action which allows more than one crop to be planted in a single growing season, but weedicides persist in the soil for decades, cause ongoing health problems.
When farmers handle these weedicides, care should be taken to see that they do not come in direct skin contact with these poisonous chemicals as they cause
1) acute intestinal spasms,
2) skin irritation,
3) nausea
4) vomiting.
Sometimes their impact might be so severe that it might be fatal leading to death.
Hence , it is must that the farmer protects his nose eyes ,mouth ,ears and hands.
The farmer needs to use polyethelene bags as hand gloves, handkerchiefs or piece of clean cloth as mask and a cap or towel to cover the head .