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Dyeing pesticides?
i.new IITA
 All
over the world, people are concerned about the misuse of chemical pesticides and
the harmful effects they have on human health. For farmers who operate sprayers
season after season, long-term contact with chemicals is a serious danger. In
Nigeria, many farmers use leaky knapsack sprayers, plastic bottles with holes
poked in the lids, buckets, paintbrushes, and sticks with leaves tied at one end
to apply pesticides. They don't notice how much of the chemical is splashing
onto their bodies. But after spraying, their skin often itches and eventually
peels. Their eyes can feel itchy and turn red.
IITA scientists tried out a novel and highly graphic way to help farmers
understand the danger. They put water dyed bright blue into spraying equipment
farmers brought to workshops held in central Nigeria as part of a weed control
project funded by the UK's Department for International Development. Dressed in
white body suits, farmer volunteers sprayed paths of blue dye onto the ground.
The dye also leaked from old nozzles, joints with no seals, dirty parts, broken
levers, and open valves. Blue trickled down backs and stained hands. It sprayed
from brushes and leaves onto the white suits.
Farmers use chemicals to reduce labour and improve crop yield. For protective
gear, many make do with long-sleeve shirts and long pants because thick
overalls, gloves, boots, and masks are expensive or not sold in the
markets.
"Farmers are smart. They know they should be careful when applying
agrochemicals. If these contained dye, they could see directly where the
chemical ended up and they would be even more careful," said IITA
agronomist Ole Nielsen. IITA scientists plan to recommend to chemical companies
they colour their products so users can see where they're being contaminated.
They also plan to distribute posters and pamphlets written in local languages to
promote sprayer safety. Once farmers can easily see the chemicals on their
bodies and know how to apply them safely, they will be less likely to pop a kola
nut into an open mouth with a contaminated hand or forget to wash off after
spraying. This will make chemical pesticide use less dangerous.
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