Spraying weedkiller feels like a casual outdoor chore — so most people don’t think about masks, respirators, or protective clothing.
But if you need specialised gear to apply a product safely… it raises bigger questions about the product itself.
For decades, New Zealand has normalised herbicide use as if it were just “routine maintenance.” A quick spray along the fence line. A tidy-up around the shed. A couple of minutes down the driveway. No big deal.
Except — it is a big deal.
Product labels (the ones most people never bother to read) don’t treat it casually at all. They warn against inhalation. They recommend Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They tell you to avoid skin contact. They even specify washing contaminated clothing separately from the rest of the family laundry.
And yet most people spray in shorts, jandals, and a T-shirt.
We’ve been culturally conditioned to think that’s “normal,” and that PPE is somehow excessive — as if only commercial sprayers or orchard workers should take it seriously.
This article isn’t about scaring anyone.
It’s about reality — and taking basic self-protection seriously if someone chooses to spray.
Because if a product requires gloves, goggles and a respirator to use safely…
then maybe it’s time we stopped acting like this stuff is no different from watering the garden.
The Mistaken Belief: “I’m Outside — the Fresh Air Will Protect Me”
One of the most common assumptions around home spraying is that being outdoors makes everything safer.
People think open air, breeze, sky — and imagine that whatever comes out of the nozzle simply disappears into the atmosphere.
But that is not how aerosolised chemicals behave.
Sprays don’t just fall neatly onto the target weeds. They stay suspended as fine droplets. They travel. They drift. They hang in the air longer than most people think — especially in those “light wind” conditions Kiwis often consider ideal spraying weather.
And then there’s vapour.
Certain herbicides don’t just drift as droplets — they can volatilise off plants and soil after application. Meaning: exposure isn’t only at the moment of spraying. You can be breathing residues hours later.
And yet — because the spray feels invisible — most people underestimate the actual inhalation risk.
In short: the lungs are the first line of exposure.
It isn’t just about what lands on leaves — it’s about what ends up inside the body of the person holding the sprayer.
Different Weedkillers = Different Risks
Another misconception is that this is only about glyphosate.
Walk into any rural store, Mitre 10, Bunnings, or farm shed and you’ll see dozens of herbicides — different brands, different formulations, and different chemical families. Roundup® is simply the brand most people recognise, but there are many glyphosate-based weedkillers on the market.
Here’s the part most people never think about:
glyphosate is only the “active ingredient” — not the whole product.
Every bottle contains other chemicals — surfactants, solvents, wetting agents — designed to make the herbicide “stick,” “spread,” and penetrate plant surfaces. Those extra ingredients are often treated as confidential business information, which means the public rarely sees the details.
So two products can both say “glyphosate” on the front —
and still contain very different chemical mixtures.
Which is why — if someone chooses to spray at all — respiratory protection shouldn’t be an optional extra.
It should be standard.
Why Ordinary Dust Masks Are NOT Enough
This is where most people get caught out.
They grab a basic disposable “dust mask” — usually a cheap P2/P95 style one — because it’s easy to find at hardware stores, and it “looks” like it’s doing the job.
But here’s the problem:
Those masks are designed for dust — not chemicals.
Herbicides create two types of exposure that dust masks are not built to protect against:
- fine droplets / aerosols
- vapours
A dust mask can capture some larger particles — but herbicide droplets are often much smaller, and vapours can pass straight through.
Meaning — you can inhale the chemical even while wearing a mask that looks “protective.”
Hardware stores don’t help with this misunderstanding either.
They often stock masks in the same aisle as weedkillers — reinforcing the idea that “any mask is better than none.”
But in the world of chemical exposure?
The type of mask matters.
You need a respirator with the correct filter cartridges — not a paper dust mask.
Because the goal isn’t to look protected.
The goal is to be protected.
And inhalation is one of the quickest ways those invisible chemicals enter the body.
Recommended Respirator Options (NZ)
If someone chooses to spray herbicides, then it makes sense to use a respirator that is actually designed to protect against chemical vapours — not just dust. These are a few examples of respirator options available in New Zealand to illustrate the kinds of products that meet that requirement.
3M A1P2 Spraying Respirator Kit 6251
A ready-to-go kit that includes the half-face mask plus organic vapour cartridges and particulate filters. Suitable for most home or rural herbicide applications.
Retailer: NZ Safety Blackwoods | Terrain | Wynn Fraser
STS Half-Face Agricultural Spraying Kit (RS01)
A starter set specifically assembled for agricultural and horticultural spraying. Includes the correct OV filters and pre-filters.
Retailer: PGG Wrightson | Enviro Resources NZ
GVS Elipse Half Mask (Reusable)
A lightweight, comfort-focused half-face mask option. Check filters carefully to ensure the correct cartridges are chosen for organic vapour chemical exposure.
Retailer: KameLo NZ | Machinery House NZ
3M 6000 Series Half-Face (Mask Body)
A cost-effective reusable mask body for those who want to choose their own specific cartridges (e.g. Organic Vapour cartridges).
Retailer: Hardy Packaging | NZ Safety Blackwoods | OfficeMax
Because inhalation is a real exposure pathway, a proper respirator isn’t overkill — it’s self-preservation.
Disclaimer:
We are not affiliated with any brand or retailer, nor do we receive compensation for highlighting these products. Readers should double-check product specifications, filter compatibility, and certification for their specific needs — and ensure the filters used are rated for organic vapour / pesticide protection for herbicide spraying.
Other Protective Gear That Matters
A respirator protects your lungs — but herbicide exposure isn’t limited to breathing it in. Spray droplets land on skin. They cling to clothing. They splash off leaves. And many additives in weedkillers are specifically designed to help chemicals penetrate biological surfaces.
So Personal Protective Equipment is not about looking “professional.”
It’s simply about blocking where those chemicals can enter the body.
Here are the basics that make a real difference:
Gloves — chemical-resistant nitrile gloves are inexpensive, comfortable, and prevent direct contact during mixing and spraying.
Clothing — long sleeves and long pants (or disposable coveralls) reduce exposed skin. Cotton T-shirts and shorts offer almost no barrier.
Eye protection — eyes can absorb chemicals too. Wrap-around safety glasses or a face shield stop droplets entering a very vulnerable pathway.
Footwear — closed shoes or gumboots protect feet and ankles from splashback — a common but often overlooked exposure point.
Most New Zealanders still spray in jandals and shorts because the danger has been normalised. But a weedkiller strong enough to kill plants deserves more respect than bare skin and summer clothes.
PPE isn’t paranoia.
It’s basic self-protection — if someone chooses to spray at all.
Winds, Weather — and the False Comfort of “it’s Calm Today”
A lot of people assume that if the air feels still — it must be safe to spray.
Just because it feels calm doesn’t mean nothing’s moving.
Light air currents are still moving — even if you can’t feel them on your skin — and herbicide droplets are small enough to stay suspended and move with even the slightest drift.
And then there’s the other blind spot most people never consider:
Vapour drift.
Some herbicides don’t just drift as droplets leaving the nozzle — they can continue to “off-gas” from leaves and soil after application. Meaning: there is a second exposure window — long after the spraying is done.
So the risk is not only:
- during the spray
… but also:
- after the spray
especially in warm weather, or when humidity changes.
Add in one more factor:
Spray droplets don’t fall straight down like raindrops.
They float.
They move sideways.
They linger.
So when someone stands holding a spray wand in “no wind” conditions — the area around their face and body can effectively become a chemical cloud.
And unless they are wearing proper protection, they are breathing that in.
Outdoors does not automatically mean safe.
Invisible does not mean harmless.
This is why timing — and protection — matter.
Even a casual backyard spray job is still a moment of exposure.
Cleaning Up — The Step Most People Skip
Once the spraying is done, most people pack up the sprayer, put the bottle back in the shed, and carry on with their day.
But the clean-up phase is another exposure moment — because the chemicals haven’t magically disappeared just because the nozzle is switched off.
If you’ve been handling herbicides, two things are almost guaranteed:
- Your clothing will have fine droplets and residue on it
- Your hands, even if gloved, can still carry surface contamination
So a safe clean-up routine matters just as much as the spraying itself.
Basic good practice includes:
Take contaminated clothing off immediately — don’t sit at the kitchen table, don’t get into the car, and definitely don’t hug your partner or children while still wearing it.
Wash those clothes separately — don’t mix them with household laundry, especially sheets, towels, or kids’ clothes. Treat them like contaminated work gear — because they are.
Store your respirator and PPE properly — filters should be sealed in a container or bag, not left out to absorb fumes from the shed.
Wash hands thoroughly — and not just a splash under a tap; a proper scrub.
Shower once finished — because residues can be on hair, face, forearms, neck, behind ears — places people forget.
For many Kiwis, the clean-up step is almost invisible — because the risk has been minimised for so long.
But if a chemical needs personal protection during use, then it deserves personal protection afterwards too.
Spraying isn’t just the moment the nozzle is active.
Exposure includes the aftermath.
And ignoring the clean-up phase means carrying that exposure into the car, onto furniture, into the home — and potentially into contact with children and pets.
It’s a quiet risk — because it’s the part no one sees.
But it’s still part of the exposure pathway.
The Bigger Question This Raises
Let’s pause on something that should not be ignored:
If weedkillers are “safe” and “low-toxicity” — like we’ve been told for decades —
why do we need respirators, gloves, eye protection, long sleeves, closed footwear, and separate laundry routines to use them?
We don’t dress like this to water the garden.
We don’t wear respirators to plant tomatoes.
We only resort to PPE (personal protective equipment) when the thing we’re handling is hazardous enough to harm us — through skin, lungs, or eyes.
And that’s the conversation New Zealand has been sidestepping.
Because PPE isn’t just a precaution — it’s a signal.
Every mask, glove, and covered forearm is a visual reminder that:
the substance being applied is dangerous enough that contact must be prevented.
In other words:
PPE isn’t proof herbicides are safe —
PPE is proof they’re not.
Which leads to the obvious — but uncomfortable — question:
If this is what’s required to protect the person holding the spray wand…
what does that mean for everyone else who never wears PPE — yet still ends up eating residues in their food?
Where This Leaves Us — for Those Who Choose to Keep Spraying
Some people will keep using weedkillers — whether we like it or not.
So at the very least, they should not be breathing them in, absorbing them through their skin, or carrying residues into their homes on contaminated clothing.
A respirator is not an overreaction.
Gloves are not overkill.
Covering your skin is not hysteria.
It is simply acknowledging the chemistry in the bottle.
But this also needs to be said clearly:
If a product requires all of this just to protect the person applying it… we need to reconsider how casually we allow it in our landscapes, our waterways, and our food supply.
Good PPE reduces personal exposure.
But it does not eliminate the wider community exposure issue.
Which is why, for us, the conversation doesn’t stop at masks.
It starts there.
Because if the only way to make spraying “safe” is to dress like you’re handling a hazardous substance — that’s because you are.
And that has implications far beyond a backyard fence line.
Glyphosate is a hazardous substance — and there is still no evidence showing that daily, low-dose exposure is actually safe.
Resources & References
Before we wrap up — it’s important to remember that this isn’t just opinion, preference, or over-cautiousness. There is real science showing drift, inhalation exposure, and biological effects — even at doses regulators still frame as “low.”
Here are a few examples worth exploring.
Occupational Pesticide Handler Exposure Data (PHED)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A foundational database documenting inhalation and dermal exposure measurements from real pesticide applicators — confirming that applicators breathe contamination while spraying, even outdoors.
The Pesticide Handlers Exposure Database (PHED): Regulatory Overview
Nielsen A., et al.
Explains how drift and inhalation exposure modelling is built — and why measuring air concentrations matters for understanding real-world applicator risk.
Transcriptome profile analysis reflects rat liver and kidney damage following chronic ultra-low dose Roundup exposure.
Mesnage R., et al. Environmental Health, 2015.
Ultra-low dose Roundup exposure caused liver and kidney damage in rats at levels regulators still describe as “safe” — showing that small doses are not the same as harmless doses.
Prenatal exposure to dietary levels of glyphosate disrupts metabolic, immune, and behavioral markers across generations in mice.
Barnett J.A., et al. Science of the Total Environment, 2025.
Found metabolic, immune, and behavioural disturbances in mice after prenatal glyphosate exposure — with effects persisting across generations — highlighting long-term risk pathways.
Stop Drift
Pesticide Action Network (PAN)
Defines and documents pesticide drift — confirming that “off-target movement” and community exposure happens in the real world, not just in theory.
Can You Really Detox Roundup From Your Body?
No More Glyphosate NZ
Discusses how supplements and plant-based supports may help the body’s detox systems, but emphasises that no pill can “erase” glyphosate or full herbicide exposure — prevention remains the crucial step.
Why Roundup® Is More Dangerous Than Glyphosate Alone
No More Glyphosate NZ
Explains how what is sprayed in real life are full formulations (like Roundup®) — containing glyphosate plus surfactants and solvents — yet regulatory testing focusses almost exclusively on glyphosate alone, creating a significant blind-spot.
These studies don’t say PPE is paranoia —
they say PPE is rational.
Because when the science shows inhalation pathways, drift exposure, cellular impacts, and generational disruption…
The question isn’t whether wearing a respirator is “over the top.”
The question is why the public is still being told these chemicals are so safe we don’t need to think twice at all.
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