Apply Now
Herbicides play a crucial role in maintaining our gardens, farms, and landscapes. These products are widely used to kill weeds and unwanted plants. However, some herbicides, such as Roundup weed killer, contain glyphosate—a chemical that is dangerous to our health. In addition, exposure to this common ingredient can lead to serious health issues, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers.
Furthermore, many recent lawsuits and mounting evidence have linked Roundup weed killer to cancer and other health complications. This has made it become necessary to take vital steps to limit the risks of exposure. In this post, we will provide you with some insightful tips to safely use herbicides, protect your health, and reduce the chances of accidental ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin.
Read Product Labels Carefully
Before using any herbicide product for the first time, you need to carefully read through the entire product label. On the label, you will find information about the ingredients, instructions, and warning statements. Many herbicides like Roundup have specific guidelines for legal, safe application. There are also details about protective clothing requirements, how to avoid spray drift, and how to safely dispose after use.
To protect yourself and avoid potential issues, you should strictly follow all label directions. Also, avoid changing the dilution rates or using other unofficial application methods. This might increase your risks of potential exposure. As a responsible user, you should take the time to properly understand each product before you handle or spray it on your farm.
Use Proper Safety Gear
Most herbicide labels with glyphosate and other harmful chemicals require you to wear your full personal protective equipment (PPE) while spraying. This includes cover-all clothing, chemical-resistant gloves, boots, goggles, and respirators. You can even double your gloves and secure your pants inside your boots. Using proper PPE can help create an effective barrier that prevents any herbicide particles from reaching your skin or being inhaled. Rather than using your old t-shirts and household gloves, you should invest in approved heavy-duty gear to avoid accidental exposure.
Avoid Spray Drift
Also, you should carefully monitor wind conditions before and when using the herbicide. Drift occurs when pesticide spray droplets become airborne and travel offsite. To avoid spray drift and minimize risks, you should only spray during low wind and high humidity conditions. You should use lower sprayer pressure, wider droplet nozzles, and drift control additives. Do not allow any herbicide to drift onto a sidewalk, play area, garden, or body of water to avoid risks of exposure.
Properly Clean and Decontaminate
After handling herbicides, you should properly clean and decontaminate all of your contaminated gear and equipment. This includes protective clothing, sprayers, nozzles, mixing tools, vehicles, and other items. You can triple-rinse your equipment and apply the rinse water on the treatment sites. Use a machine to wash your PPE, but separately from any other clothing. Clean and remove your rubber boots, gloves, goggles, and respirators with approved decontaminants.
Wash Your Hands and Body
Even when you use proper protective equipment to apply the herbicides, you should still wash your whole body thoroughly after sprays. You should also wash any area that might have been contaminated. You can gently scrub with soap and warm water to remove any potential residues, especially on your hands, forearms, face, and neck. Carefully dry your hands and body using disposable towels. A thorough washing can help remove all herbicide particles and prevent contamination.
Properly Store Herbicides
To avoid accidental ingestion or absorption, always store herbicides securely in their original containers. Keep your herbicides away from food items, pets, or children. Do not transfer into alternate containers which may lead to confusion or accidental exposure. You can even store them in a well-ventilated, locked area. Also, you should inspect the product containers regularly to detect signs of leaks, damage, or degradation. You may also need to immediately use up or dispose old containers.
Avoid High Exposure Areas
After spraying Roundup weed killer or any herbicide that contains glyphosate, you should avoid that entire area until the products have fully dried and any vapors or particles have disappeared. This may take multiple days, depending on application rates, temperature, and humidity conditions. Do not consume vegetation, crops, water, or soil where you recently applied the herbicides. You should also remove your shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking herbicide residues back inside. If you need to apply the herbicide in a large area, such as a commercial farm or golf course, you should hire a professional.
Eat an Organic Diet
In addition, you can change your diet to focus more on organic produce that is glyphosate-free. This is a smart lifestyle change that can help reduce overall herbicide exposure risks. In fact, low-level ingestion of non-organic fruits and veggies can accumulate over time in the body. Before eating your fruits and other farm products, you can peel away outer layers and foliage where residues concentrate.
Use Alternative Methods
Finally, you can reduce the risks of exposure to harmful herbicides by using manual, mechanical, or organic weed-killing solutions. Some common alternatives include pulling weeds, mulching garden beds, and using corn gluten. These solutions can help reduce or eliminate the risks of pesticide exposure. For tougher weed invasions, you can use some plant-based essential oil products with lower toxicity levels. You can also add some vinegar, soap, or citric acids to make your organic herbicides slightly more potent.
Conclusion
Roundup weed killer and other glyphosate-based herbicides offer a convenient way to control the weed. However, they are dangerous to our health, and prolonged exposure may lead to cancer and other health issues. By following the insightful tips mentioned above, you can protect yourself, avoid contamination, and prevent exposure.
However, if you or someone close to you has suffered a personal injury or severe health issue from Roundup weed killer exposure, you can file a lawsuit to seek financial compensation and apply for legal funding while your case is ongoing.
Contact Us to Apply for Risk-Free Lawsuit Funding
Contact us at High Rise Financial today to apply for our non-recourse lawsuit loan. Our reliable team will be happy to speak with you and assist with your legal funding application. If you are approved for the settlement loan, your cash advance will be available within 24 hours or less. Call us at (866) 407-6404 today to apply.