Sheep dips

COSHH m Agriculture. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH) Sheep Dipping COSHH m Eorestry... 

When DDT was widely used, it was released into the environment in a number of different ways. The spraying of crops, and the spraying of water surfaces and land to control insect vectors of diseases, were major sources of environmental contamination. Waterways were sometimes contaminated with effluents from factories where DDT was used. Sheep-dips containing DDT were discharged into water courses. Thus, it is not surprising that DDT residues became so widespread in the years after the war. It should also be remembered that, because of their stability, DDT residues can be circulated by air masses and ocean currents to reach remote parts of the globe. Very low levels have been detected even in Antarctic snow ... 

The relatively high vapor pressure of most OPs limits their persistence when sprayed on to exposed surfaces (e.g., on crops, seeds, or farm animals). Some, such as chlorfenvinphos, have relatively low vapor pressure, and consequently tend to be more persistent than most OPs. Chlorfenvinphos has been used as a replacement for OC compounds both as an insecticidal seed dressing and as a sheep dip. 

Sodium sulfide (Na S) is used in the dye industry, in the oxidation process of gold, lead, and cooper metal ores, as a sheep dip, and to process paper. 

Forbat IN, Skehan JD. 1992. Health effects of organophosphate sheep dip [letter], British Medical Journal 305. 

The impact of pesticides on water quality in organic systems has rarely been studied (Stock-dale et al. 2001). Again, however, most of the water contamination comes from herbicides used in conventional farming. There is some debate about the disposal of sheep dip and the relative risks of pyrethroids versus organophosphates. Organic farmers only use the former and they are potentially more damaging to aquatic habitats. 

Arsenic trioxide finds major use in the preparation of other compounds, notably those used in agricultural applications, The compounds monosodium methylarsonate. disodium methylarsonate, methane arsenic acid (cacodylic acid) are used for weed control, while arsenic acid, H3ASO4, is used as a desiccant for the defoliation of cotton crops, Other compounds once widely used in agriculture are calcium arsenate for control of boll weevils, lead arsenate as a pesticide for fruit crops, and sodium arsenite as a herbicide and for cattle and sheep dip. In some areas, arsenilic acid has been used as a feed additive for swine and poultry. Restrictions on these compounds vary from one country and region to the next. 

Buchanan, D. et al., Estimation of cumulative exposure to organophosphate sheep dips in a study of chronic neurological health effects among United Kingdom sheep dippers, Occup. Environ. Med., 58, 694-701, 2001. 

Aldrin has been used as a soil insecticide to control root worms, beetles, and termites. Dieldrin has been used in agriculture for soil and seed treatment and in public health to control disease vectors such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies. Dieldrin also has had veterinary use as a sheep dip and has been used in the treatment of wood and mothproofing woolen products. Workers could be occupationally exposed to aldrin or dieldrin from inhalation and absorption through the skin. Most uses for aldrin and dieldrin were banned in 1975 since 1986, these compounds have not been produced or imported into the United States. 

Lewis S, Young W. 2000. Proposed environmental quality standards for organophosphate sheep dip chemicals in water. Bristol (UK) Environment Agency. R D technical report no. P128. 76 p. 

Pollution with arsenic can also be due to human, industrial activity, and most of the arsenic in the atmosphere is from the burning of fossil fuels. Arsenic has been used in fruit sprays, insecticides (lead arsenate), weedkillers (sodium or copper arsenite), rat poison, sheep dips, fly papers, wood preservative, and in glass-making. It is now also used in the semiconductor industry. Apparently, it was used as a pesticide by the Chinese centuries ago. Most of the arsenic used commercially in the world is probably contained in various pesticides. This inevitably leads to contamination of the environment. 

Stephens, R., Spurgeon, A., Calvert, I.A., Beach, J., Levy, L.S., Berry, H., Harrington, J.M. (1995). Neuropsychological effects of long-term exposure to organophosphates in sheep dip. Cancel 345 1135-9. 

Quite frequently, and typically 1-4 days after resolution of symptoms of acute exposure, the intermediate syndrome may develop, characterised by a proximal flaccid limb paralysis which may reflect muscle necrosis. Even later, after a gap of 2-4 weeks, some exposed persons exhibit the delayed polyneuropathy, with sensory and motor impairment usually of the lower limbs. Claims of chronic effects (subtle cognitive defects, peripheral neuropathy) following recurrent, low-dose exposure, as with organophosphate used as sheep dip, continues to be the subject of investigation but, as yet, no conclusive proof. 

Report 1998 Organophosphate sheep dip. Clinical aspects of long-term low-dose exposure. Royal College of Physicians (London) and Royal College of Psychiatrists... 

Arsenic was used as one of the earliest poisons and it is still used in some sheep dips, rat poisons, wood... 

Rotenone has been used for centuries as a fish poison. Rotenone is used as an insecticide around the garden to control chewing insects on vegetables, fruits, and forage crops. Rotenone is also used as a dust on cattle and in dog and sheep dip formulations for scabies, chiggers, fleas, ticks, lice, and mange. 

Use Wood preservative, insecticide for cattle and sheep dipping (dip oils or sheep dip), manufacture of disinfectants. 

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