I live next door to a field of potatoes which has been sprayed with sulphuric acid. Is this allowed?
Sulphuric acid is approved for use as an agricultural ‘desiccant’ (it dries out the green parts before harvesting) on potato, bulbs and peas. Farmers and contractors spraying sulphuric acid must follow special conditions. • They must write to anyone living, working, growing crops or keeping animals within 25 metres of the land they are going to treat. This must be at least one day before the spraying and must mention the possibility of a hazard. • Before spraying, they must put clear notices on all roads and paths next to the field which is going to be sprayed. The notices should give the time and place of the application and explain the possibility of a hazard. They must be left in place for at least four days. For more deatils about sulphuric acid see our website. Sulphuric Acid.
