EPA 



continued 



4). Full-face Powered Air-purifying Respirators 



(PAPR) 

 5). Helmet/Hooded Powered Air-puriiying 



Respirators (PAPR) 



B) .Supplied Air Respirators (SAR) 



1). Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) 

 2). Air Line Respirators 



YOUR PROTECTION FACTOR 



Respirators are assigned Protection Factors (PF). A 

 protection factor lets the user know how much of the 

 contaminant can be expected to leak into his nose, 

 throat, and lungs. For example, a 1/2 face respirator 

 is given a PF of 10. This means that If the area has 

 1000 parts per million (ppm) of a pesticide vapor, only 

 100 ppm Avill potentially be in the face piece. (This as- 

 sumes you have the correct cartridge on the face piece 

 and that it fits you properly!) 



If the material against which you are protecting 

 yourself might have harmful effects on your eyes, a 

 wise choice of respiratory protection would be a full- 

 face respirator which covers the eyes. Full-face 

 respirators have a PF of 100. Using the example 

 above, you would potentially have only 10 parts per 

 million in your face piece. 



CHOOSING A RESPIRATOR 



In order to safely choose, use, and care for respirators, 

 you must: (A) identify the contaminant(s); (B) identify 

 the chemical and physical characteristics of the mate- 

 rial; (C) identify the toxicity of the end-use product; 

 (D) identify the levels of contamination in the air; (E) 

 ensure that the levels of oxygen are at least between 

 19.5 and 22%; (F) be aware of any other conditions 

 that may injure a respirator user; and finally, (G) prop- 

 erly fit and (H) train APR users. 



A). Identification of Contaminant (s): 



Pesticide, Biocide, Bactericide, Herbicide 



"-CIDE" To Kill 



These materials are specially batched, compounded, 



and prepared to kill certain organisms. Their main 



function is to kill insect pests, bacteria, plants, etc. 



B). Chemical and Physical Characteristics: 

 a). Solids 



Solids applied as solids 



Solids diluted with water 

 b). Gases 



Gases applied outdoors 



Gases applied indoors 

 c). liquids 



Water-based 



Solvent-based 

 d). Combination of above 



Fumigants 

 The second part of this article will discuss the new 

 EPA toxicity categories assigned to pesticides, maxi- 

 mum-use limitations of respirators, employer 

 responsibilities, cartridge color codes, and the require- 

 ments for a minimally acceptable respirator program. 

 In the meantime, please try to avoid using the five 

 compounds identified by the EPA as real troublemak- 

 ers for users/ employees. These are responsible for 

 40% of occupationally related illness: Parathion, 

 Diazinon, Phosdrin/Mevinphos, Metiiyomyl, and Omite 

 Propagite. 



Leo Traverse is a Certified Environmental Trainer and 

 President of Hazmateam, Inc. Hazmateam is located in 

 Hampstead, NH, and provides Personal Protection 

 Equipment (PPE) training, respiratory protection plans, 

 safety plans, respirator training, and monitoring. For 

 information, call Leo at 603-434-2051. **- 



1028 Horseneck Road 



Westport, MA 02790 



508-636-5615 



SPECIALIZING IN 



Heath.. .Heather. . .Bearbeny. 



Herbs . . . Seashore Plants . . . 



also, a full line of quality nursery stock 



IS3IKI 



The Plantsman 

 16 



