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PestiBytes Episode 12: Pesticides and Food Containers Just Don't Mix!
Introduction/Conclusion: Dr. Dave Stone, Director of the National Pesticide Information Center
Host: Sandra Uesugi, EHSC Outreach Program Coordinator
Guest: Humberto, NPIC Pesticide Specialist
[THEME MUSIC]
DR. STONE: Welcome to PestiBytes, a podcast series from the National Pesticide Information Center. These are based on common pesticide questions from people just like you.
[THEME MUSIC]
SANDRA: This is Sandra, and I'm here with Humberto to talk about the importance of storing pesticides in their original containers. Humberto, why is it a problem to pour pesticides into other bottles?
HUMBERTO: If a pesticide is kept in a food or beverage container, a child or anyone else could drink from that bottle thinking it contains the original beverage. Children are often poisoned when they get into pesticides, especially when a pesticide is not stored in its original container and left within the child's reach.
SANDRA: What if they are stored out of the reach of children. Isn't that safe enough?
HUMBERTO: No. Storing pesticides in other containers is not only an unsafe practice but it can be illegal in some states. If someone were to drink or spill it, the emergency responders would not have access to the label. They would not have any idea what was in the bottle, how to treat the illness or what precautions to take. You can avoid storing pesticides in your home by buying only what you need.
SANDRA: What about reusing pesticide containers?
HUMBERTO: Reusing a pesticide container, even to store another pesticide, can also be dangerous. Some containers may have pesticide residues in them, even if rinsed or washed first. These residues may react with other substances.
Never reuse any pesticide container yourself. They must be treated as an actual pesticide. Follow the clean up and disposal instructions on the label.
SANDRA: Thanks, Humberto!
HUMBERTO: You're welcome!
[THEME MUSIC]
DR. STONE: If you have questions about pesticides, please call us at 1-800-858-7378 or visit us on the web at
http://npic.orst.edu.
PestiBytes is brought to you by the National Pesticide Information Center, a cooperative agreement between
Oregon State University and
the
Environmental Protection Agency. These are produced in collaboration with OSU's
Environmental Health
Sciences Center, funded by the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
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If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Last updated May 10, 2011
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