It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting ourselves from chemicals. Roundup is a great weed-killer but uses chemicals to do so. With this in mind, should you wear a mask while spraying roundup?
A mask should be worn when spraying roundup to be protected against the effects of inhaling roundup. Glyphosate is in roundup and can cause issues such as cancer, birth defects, neurodegenerative diseases, and other serious health conditions. A mask prevents these effects and harm from using roundup.
Roundup works as well as it does because it contains a lot of quite harsh chemicals. Naturally, you want to take every step possible to avoid being exposed to these chemicals. Let’s look further into this.
What kind of mask do you use for roundup?
You should wear an N95 valved respirator mask when spraying roundup. This provides full protection against inhaling anything carcinogenic that could potentially harm your lungs. Cloth and surgical masks are other options, certainly better than not wearing any mask. But they aren’t designed to guard you against the carcinogenic particles from roundup. This is where the N95 valved respirator mask comes in.
N95 masks feature respirators which are able to screen out harmful contaminants. These filter features can prevent a lot more harmful material from entering your lungs than cloth masks. One thing that these filters are particularly designed to target is carcinogens. Roundup has Glyphosate in its mix, which is a harmful carcinogen to humans when inhaled. This is why you need to wear the N95 rated respirator masks when spraying roundup. You can find these face masks online and order them if it is easier than tracking them down in person.
Non-N95 masks work simply by covering the face and mouth, protecting you from some exposure but not completely. There is no respirator to fully prevent exposure to carcinogens.
If you’re going to be spraying roundup regularly, then wearing a mask is vital to protect your health. You should wear a mask every time you spray roundup. The more that you are exposed to it, the more important wearing a mask while spraying roundup is.
What should I wear when spraying roundup?
One of the most important things to wear when spraying roundup is a mask, specifically an N95 valved respirator mask. This is important to protect yourself from inhaling roundup particles such as Glyphosate, which can have a bad impact on your health. You need a mask that will cover your mouth and nose, that seals well, and has the right filters to stop roundup particles. If your mask smells like chemicals during or after using roundup, you will need to replace the filters or mask. This ensures your protection when spraying roundup.
You’ll also need sturdy rubber gloves, to prevent roundup from getting on your hands and irritating your skin. You should also wear clear safety glasses when spraying roundup. This will protect your eyes and prevent damage from roundup getting in them. Make sure the safety glasses have side view protection.
When spraying roundup, you should make sure to wear socks and closed-toe shoes. Pair this with long sleeves and long pants, trying to cover as much skin as possible.
Wear socks and closed-toe shoes, making sure your feet are fully covered. This is the best way to protect your body from the harsh chemicals in roundup.
What happens if you inhale roundup?
Inhaling roundup can cause irritation and burning in your mouth and throat. This can occur even if you only inhale a small amount. These are also minor symptoms of inhaling roundup.
You will likely notice increased saliva and nausea. In severe cases of exposure, you can feel nauseous and experience vomiting and diarrhoea.
The main issues from inhaling roundup come from the presence of glyphosate. Studies have shown that long term exposure can cause damage to our microbiomes which has the potential to lead to cancer.
The most dangerous side effects associated with inhaling roundup are celiac disease, chronic kidney disease, IBS, heart and liver disease, and reproductive issues. Once roundup is inhaled, it is absorbed by our internal systems, passing through the kidneys and even the heart. This is where lots of damage can occur.
Can roundup be absorbed through the skin?
Roundup can be absorbed through the skin which is why wearing gloves, long sleeves, long pants and closed shoes is important. Absorption through the skin is the second biggest way that we are exposed to roundup.
If you have cuts or scrapes on your skin and use roundup without protection, the roundup can enter your system through these wounds. Roundup also has the potential to be absorbed on clear and unmarked skin. Absorbing roundup can lead to severe irritation, rashes, and excessive itching.
Absorbing roundup can also lead to photocontact dermatitis, which causes the skin to become irritated whenever exposed to the sun. Roundup can also lead to severe burns on your skin.
Wearing clothing to protect yourself from roundup exposure will keep you safe and reduces the risk of poisoning yourself.
Is roundup safe to use?
Roundup is safe to use provided that you wear the right mask and cover your skin up as much as possible. Roundup has the potential to be extremely dangerous to your health if you don’t properly protect yourself. But it isn’t difficult to do so, which is why roundup is still safe to use.
As we mentioned, studies have shown links between long term exposure to roundup with issues including the gut microbiome and, ultimately, cancer. The dangers are very real, but there are robust ways to protect yourself.
If you wear an N95 valved respirator mask, gloves, safety goggles, long sleeves, long pants and closed shoes, you are protected against roundup. This will prevent any health impacts from using roundup. At the end of the day, you just need to make sure you wear the correct PPE, and you won’t be at risk when using roundup.
Looking to stock up on face masks? Check out our range of quality face masks at Paragon Tools. We have KN95 masks available, as well as reusable cloth masks for adults and reusable masks for children.
