Where It Comes From
Spraying on agricultural fields (including bromoxynil esters like bromoxynil octanoate); residues can drift, bind to soil, and reach nearby water [1][3].
How You Are Exposed
Mixing/loading or applying products; being nearby during spraying or drift; touching treated plants/soil; residues on food; drinking private well water near treated fields [1][2][3].
Why It Matters
Short-term exposure can cause eye/skin irritation, coughing, headache, and nausea; repeated high exposure has affected the liver and development in animal studies [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
Farmworkers and pesticide applicators; pregnant people and young children; residents near treated fields; people using shallow wells in farm areas [1][2][3].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Follow label directions and wear protective gear; respect reentry intervals; close windows and stay indoors during nearby spraying; wash produce; remove work shoes/clothes before entering the home; consider certified carbon filtration for wells near treated fields [1][2][3].
References
- [1]U.S. EPA. Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for Bromoxynil; RED Facts. Office of Pesticide Programs, 1998.
- [2]CDC/NIOSH. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Bromoxynil (CAS 1689-84-5).
- [3]WHO/FAO JMPR. Bromoxynil and bromoxynil octanoate: toxicological and residue evaluations.