Crop Spraying

[BlueStringPudding]

Last night, about 7.30 I was on the boat doing some work on the electrics in the back cabin. The front and back doors were open, as were a couple of windows and the rear hatch (it was 31 degrees centigrade in there when I got home from work!). I could hear a tractor of some sort in the field on the opposite side of the canal.

 

All of a sudden my eyes started stinging. And I mean really stinging. There was a gawd-awful smell (a bit like wasp spray) and I quickly got a very bitter taste in my throat, followed by a very sore throat. I twigged that the tractor must have been spraying the field with something and clearly had bad aim because it had reached thirty-odd foot away from the edge of his field all the way to my boat and beyond.

 

Within about 5 minutes my heart rate sped up and my throat became increasingly sore. Needless to say I closed all the doors and hatches on the boat as quickly as I could and covered my mouth with a teatowel, because the taste of the stuff was horrible. I sat down and it took about half an hour for my heart rate to slow down, followed by a pounding headache behind one of my eyes. But the headache was gone again within about 8 minutes or so, and then the other symptoms went away about 45 minutes after they began.

 

Horrible, it was. I'm assuming it was some sort of pesticide being sprayed (although maybe it was a chemical fertiliser). I'm going up to the farm at the weekend to ask them what the actual chemical was, because I'd like to know, and I'll tell them how ropey their aim was! There was no wind at all yesterday evening (I can tell by my trusty stationary wind turbine!) so they don't have that as a reason for the spray drifting so far.

 

There were 3 other boats moored behind us, if they're still there tonight I'll ask them if they were affected by it. The chemical stayed in the air all the rest of the evening so I didn't fancy venturing out in it to ask them last night.

[FadeToScarlet]

sue?

[greywolf]

Yes you need to do that because it may be you will need a check up at the doctors some of the modern farm chemicals are really nasty.

[GSer]

I don't suppose you tried one of Mrs GSers chillies yesterday? They produce very similar symptoms to what you've just described!

 

 

 

 

Seriously though go to the farmer and ask what he was using at least you have an idea on what to tell the GP & AFAIK there are limitations as to where he can spray chemicals in relation to waterways, there certainly is on rivers in my area.

 

Paul

[Sir Nibble]

This is not an easy one.

It is most likely that the farmers reaction will be along the lines of "No, impossible, you imagined it, get orf moi laaand". But apart from any possible effects on you or other moorers, how, if at all has the canal been affected? Are there any dead fish? How about dragonflies? Wildfowl? I think the relevant enviromental health department should be informed as there could be repercussions you are not aware of.

[blackelle123]

Last night, about 7.30 I was on the boat doing some work on the electrics in the back cabin. The front and back doors were open, as were a couple of windows and the rear hatch (it was 31 degrees centigrade in there when I got home from work!). I could hear a tractor of some sort in the field on the opposite side of the canal.

 

All of a sudden my eyes started stinging. And I mean really stinging. There was a gawd-awful smell (a bit like wasp spray) and I quickly got a very bitter taste in my throat, followed by a very sore throat. I twigged that the tractor must have been spraying the field with something and clearly had bad aim because it had reached thirty-odd foot away from the edge of his field all the way to my boat and beyond.

 

Within about 5 minutes my heart rate sped up and my throat became increasingly sore. Needless to say I closed all the doors and hatches on the boat as quickly as I could and covered my mouth with a teatowel, because the taste of the stuff was horrible. I sat down and it took about half an hour for my heart rate to slow down, followed by a pounding headache behind one of my eyes. But the headache was gone again within about 8 minutes or so, and then the other symptoms went away about 45 minutes after they began.

 

Horrible, it was. I'm assuming it was some sort of pesticide being sprayed (although maybe it was a chemical fertiliser). I'm going up to the farm at the weekend to ask them what the actual chemical was, because I'd like to know, and I'll tell them how ropey their aim was! There was no wind at all yesterday evening (I can tell by my trusty stationary wind turbine!) so they don't have that as a reason for the spray drifting so far.

 

There were 3 other boats moored behind us, if they're still there tonight I'll ask them if they were affected by it. The chemical stayed in the air all the rest of the evening so I didn't fancy venturing out in it to ask them last night.

Tell me what crop it was and I will try and find out what chemical might be used, I'm an administrator in an agro-chem office. Farmers never use any masks or breathing apperatus and the law is really, really strict as what can and can not be used, so I don't think it would have been too serious. Though farmers are not supposed to spray when it is windy or if there is risk of the spray spreading.

[BlueStringPudding]

This is not an easy one.

It is most likely that the farmers reaction will be along the lines of "No, impossible, you imagined it, get orf moi laaand". But apart from any possible effects on you or other moorers, how, if at all has the canal been affected? Are there any dead fish? How about dragonflies? Wildfowl? I think the relevant enviromental health department should be informed as there could be repercussions you are not aware of.

 

Can't say I've looked to see what else is affected - I'll check in with the other boaters if they're still there tonight. Kev's moving the boat this morning to get away from there - shame coz it's a lovely spot to moor at, but we're heading back towards the horse fields which only smell of horses, in case the farmer does it again!

 

If it turns out to have been chemical fertiliser rather than pesticide, there might be an increase in algae or stinging nettles but little else! Who knows.

 

To be honest I'm more concerned about my own health and that of boaters, walkers and their pets at the moment - the symtpoms although short-lived were quite acute. I'll ask around this evening.

 

Tell me what crop it was and I will try and find out what chemical might be used, I'm an administrator in an agro-chem office. Farmers never use any masks or breathing apperatus and the law is really, really strict as what can and can not be used, so I don't think it would have been too serious. Though farmers are not supposed to spray when it is windy or if there is risk of the spray spreading.

 

Thanks for that. I don't know what the crop is, as it's behind hedges. If there's no-one home on the farm tonight to answer my questions, I'll have a shufty to see if I can tell what the crop is.

 

Thanks.

[Dipple]

The good news is you recovered from your symptoms fairly quickly, you maybe unlucky in just having a bad reaction to whatever was being used.

Your first port of call should be the farmer it is in his/her interest to supply you with any imformation you require, anyone applying Agricultural pesticides is tested and registered with strict guidelines to follow.

 

Because the weather was hot and calm can often cause more problems than if there was a breeze as the chemical hangs in the air for a prolonged time, Volatilisation i think it is spelt. If anyone is concerned when they see a sprayer working make yourself noticed and talk to the operator.

[Chris J W]

And, just in case, Investigating incidents where people, wildlife or the environment have been exposed to pesticides

[Bones]

that sounds really scary and horrid. Are you feeling OK now? Would it be worth going to the Dr to check out you are OK? You might want to ask the farmer when he will be doing it again so you aren't around!

[LongShen]

Hi ya,

That sounds awful , hope you’re feeling better now.

 

When moored in that spot in the past had experiences of the drift of the spray but fortunately without your symptoms. Had a bit of a headache but cured with Ruddles County!

 

Over the years that field seems to be rotated through various crops, one year barley, another oil seed rape, another fallow etc (not sure of order). It’s important to find out what chemical was being sprayed as symptoms not at all good.

I’ll ask around and see what I can find out.

 

Steve

[Phil Ambrose]

This is not an easy one.

It is most likely that the farmers reaction will be along the lines of "No, impossible, you imagined it, get orf moi laaand". But apart from any possible effects on you or other moorers, how, if at all has the canal been affected? Are there any dead fish? How about dragonflies? Wildfowl? I think the relevant enviromental health department should be informed as there could be repercussions you are not aware of.

Check your paintwork as well, I recall fishing on the Sussex Rother where it ran through the Guinness hop fields and one day the farmer who was also the Ballif told us to move our car as he was going to spray when we hesitated he pointed out his tractor which had no paint left on it at all!!! We moved it.

[Prof]

Sounds MOST unpleasant!

 

As one who used to train agricultural workers in the joys of FEPA (Food and Environmental Protection Act) and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) I can tell you that STRICTLEY speaking you are not supposed to allow ANY spray drift off the "target area". This is often difficult to achieve but allowing it to affect members of the public moored on an adjacent waterway (not to mention the waterway it's self!) is unacceptable.

 

If you get no help / apology from the farmer I suggest you let him know you intend informing the HSE quoting FEPA and COSHH.

 

The main thing is you seem to be OK but the farmer needs to be more careful in future.

 

Good luck

[Gibbo]

Within about 5 minutes my heart rate sped up and my throat became increasingly sore.................. because the taste of the stuff was horrible. I sat down and it took about half an hour for my heart rate to slow down, followed by a pounding headache behind one of my eyes. But the headache was gone again within about 8 minutes or so, and then the other symptoms went away about 45 minutes after they began.

 

Those are all symptoms of nitrates.

 

It could have killed someone with a dodgy ticker (like me!). I'd report it to the Police and anyone else with any power. That farmer wants locking up. For good. He's danger to himself and everyone around him.

 

Gibbo

[saltysplash]

Dont forget to keep a check on your height over the next few weeks.....Getting sprayed by chemicals is what happend to The Incredible Shrinking Man and he ended up having to fight a spider with a pin.

[blackelle123]

Those are all symptoms of nitrates.

 

It could have killed someone with a dodgy ticker (like me!). I'd report it to the Police and anyone else with any power. That farmer wants locking up. For good. He's danger to himself and everyone around him.

 

Gibbo

Hubs has worked in a distribution depot for agricultural chemicals for the last 12 years, he hasn't turned green yet and he doesn't glow in the dark, but he agrees that farmers are idiots if they spray when there's a wind. Most farmers are really carefull, because they are dealing with the stuff directly, I must admit I see more farmers with missing limbs than I do suffering from the effects of chemicals!

[carlt]

I must admit I see more farmers with missing limbs than I do suffering from the effects of chemicals!

I knew someone who lost most of fingers, because of the effects of chemicals.

[saltysplash]

I knew someone who lost most of fingers, because of the effects of chemicals.

 

 

and a few firemen whose soles of their boots didnt last very long before the days of the hazchem signs

[sueb]

I know an ex groundsman with permanent lung damage due to the chemicals he used at work.

Sue

[Nightwatch]

I don't.

[BlueStringPudding]

Just back from a week's holiday, and I've had no luck contacting the farmer. The farmhouse itself (so I've heard) is rented out to another family, who have yet to be home when I call round. The actual farmer is based somewhere else but travels in to tend the fields. I can't even find contact information for the farm online.

 

I've decided to report it in writing because in the absence of knowing exactly what the chemical was, I'm obviously concerned. Twice in the last week I've suffered spells of chest pain (which I can't attribute to indigestion or similar and have never had anything like it before). This could be caused by asthma medication (a course of which I'm just 5 weeks into) although it's not a symptom mentioned on the leaflets. I'll be seeing my asthma specialist on Wednesday morning to talk about it, and I'm trying to get an appointment with the doc too, just to rule out anything unpleasant.

 

I'm sure all's well, but it's good to be cautious.

[ChrisPy]

and when you do track him down it will be something like "I rented the field out" or "I contracted the spraying out" thereby trying to duck out of his primary responsibility to protect the public.

[Bat & Frog]

I hope your Ok now, couple of things.

 

Spraying should be avoided in high temps as spray can evaporate and drift before it settlees and absorbed by target crop.

 

If it is nitrates, these should not be allowed to drift into water courses, normally there are buffer zones and you may be in a nitrate sensitive area. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/...ate/default.htm

 

HSE is one approach, but also consider contacting DEFRA for advice.

 

 

 

Farmers in modern tractors are protected from the spray, as the cabs are fairly airtight and work on positive pressure. Filtered air is pumped in and seeps out so no vapours can enter.

 

Even if the farm uses contractors, they are the landowners and it is there responsibility to ensure all works are within H&S etc.

 

Hope you get sorted and interested to hear outcome

[Biggles]

I am on the Fenns. Agriculture everywhere, that's why the waterways are there. The only time I have been near a spray session, the driver stopped about 100m from the waterway until I passed. So it's clear they know there are some rules, or at least common decency.

[Yoda]

BSP, you have had an unfortunate experience. It is probably wheat that is the other side of the hedge and was probably sprayed by contractors. Whom ever sprayed the land was doing the right thing by waiting until it was calm and fully still. You had a reaction to something else in the spray, not the feed.

 

The sprayer has done nothing wrong, as you stated that the climate was still.

 

Contact the local contractors and find out what they have been spraying lately.