- 5 



Parathlon Remaining in "Empty" Containers 

 Container Amount found- (Gms .Tech ) Fatal dose for 

 No. Type Range Mean 150 lb. man 



TT 



22 



4 lb 

 bags 

 29% wp 



5 gal . 

 drums 

 45.5% 



paper 



metal 



EC 



0.25 - 1 .20 



1 .25 - 9.48 



60^ 



2.73 



.10 

 .10 



This amount fatal to 5 or 6 men 

 This amount fatal to 27 men. 



"Their studies indicated that strong alkali solutions were 

 not satisfactory for decontaminating 5-gallon metal drums which 

 had contained Parathion. Rinsing each container twice with water 

 removed almost 98% of the total removable Parathion, as estimated 

 by 5 water rinses" (to remove all that reasonably could be removed 

 by this method) . 



"They recommended that 2 rinsings with water be used as a min- 

 imum decontamination for 5-gallon metal drums after their content 

 of pesticide has been removed. Rinse water, of course, should be 

 put in the spray tanks only. In addition, the drums should be made 

 unusable and destroyed by crushing and burying them. 



"Analysis of air samples taken in the smoke from burning paper 

 bags that had contained 25% wettable Parathion showed the smoke to 

 contain Parathion. The level found was greater than the amount in 

 air samples taken while Parathion sprays were being applied. When 

 burning pesticide containers, keep out of the smoke." 



III. Suggestions and Recommendations : 



1. High temperature destruction of combustible "empty" pesticide 

 containers seems to offer the best possible solution to our present 

 disposal dilemma. As indicated previously, the only thermal facil- 

 ity of this type in New York State is owned and operated by the 

 Hooker Chemical Company at Buffalo. Current and future research 

 will undoubtedly improve the operation and may increase the number 

 of such units. In the meantime, we appear to have the following 

 alternatives: 



Induce the chemical companies or formulators and dealers 

 to supply water-proof, locked, master containers for stor- 

 ing "empty" containers, involving toxic, persistent, accum- 

 ulative pesticides. They would be accumulated in this man- 

 ner until the end of the season, at which time they would 

 be taken to central points - probably distributor or dealer 



