What should you do with cotton or polyester clothing heavily contaminated with pesticides labeled with the signal words DANGER-POISON, DANGER, or WARNING?

• A. Discard such items in a hazardous waste collection site
• B. Launder them and reuse after drying
• C. Burn them in open air
• D. Place them in regular trash

Answer: (A)

Pesticide-contaminated clothing that carries high-toxicity signal words should be treated as hazardous waste. The residues can remain on fabric and pose a risk of skin exposure or transfer to others, and laundering can spread pesticides into wastewater while burning can create toxic fumes. Discarding it with regular trash can expose sanitation workers and the environment to contamination. The proper action is to take the heavily contaminated clothing to a hazardous waste collection site so it can be disposed of safely and in accordance with local regulations. If possible, handle the items with gloves and store them in a sealed container until disposal.