Chemicals and Farming
Many farmers spray their agricultural fields regularly, to kill pests such as rootworm and corn borer and to kill weeds such as velvet leaf and broadleaf. You've probably seen the television commercials for Roundup and Lorsban and Rattler. These pesticides are frequently applied to agricultural fields; the very same fields you'll be walking in, or even digging holes in. Pesticides and fungicides can have other nasty side effects, from accidental runoff entering nearby creeks and killing fish, to accumulation in the soil and entering ground water; but as an archaeologist, you should be aware that these sorts of pesticides may be have been applied to the field in which you are working.So how do you protect yourself? First, talk to the farmer. Asking permission to enter his or her field is part courtesy, part pragmatics; you should also use that step to find out if the fields have been sprayed or will be sprayed, when that might have happened and what was used on the field. Ask to see the label and look for the "restricted entry interval" (REI). This will tell you when it is safe to go back into the field--that is, how many days or hours must elapse after spraying before the hazard has decreased to a safe level.
Common Sense
Common sense should prevail in all other circumstances--even if there has been no recent spraying, some pesticides and fungicides will stay in trace amounts in a field, particularly if there has been little rain. Always avoid direct contact with pesticide containers; always wash your hands after you've been in the field and before you eat; never, and I mean never, taste soil or an artifact taken from a field. (You think I'm kidding? When I did my first season, the coolest guy there stuck his tongue on a ceramic sherd to see what kind of paste it was; and soil scientists I've known used to chew dirt to get an idea of particle size.) Most importantly--if the farmer begins spraying the field where you are working--leave the field instantly.Just because a farm field looks inviting and quiet, don't forget there may be hidden dangers.
More Information
- Greenbook: his site has free online search engine that allows you to search for a pesticide or fungicide under its popular name and find the label, Material Safety Data Sheet and supplemental label.
- Material Safety Data SheetsThis website has a ton of very useful information concerning the labels placed on pesticides and fungicides to identify their handling.
- MSDSs aren't just for chemists!, information from Anne Marie Helmenstine, About's Guide to Chemistry
