Exposure Assessment of Apple Orchard Workers to the Insecticide Imidacloprid Using Whole Body Dosimetry During Mixing/Loading and Application

Abstract

To evaluate exposure characteristics of the insecticide imidacloprid to apple orchard workers during treatment on orchard fields and evaluate its potential risk using a whole body dosimetry (WBD) method, 1,000-time diluted acephate+imidacloprid 25(20+5)% solutions were sprayed on 10 apple orchard fields in Cheongju with a speed sprayer at a rate of 3,000 L/ha/person, after put on clothes such as inner/ outer clothes, personal air pump with a IOM sampler, nitrile glove and mask. Exposure test included mixing, loading and application steps. The test pesticide imidacloprid residues in the collected samples were analyzed with a HPLC-DAD. Recoveries ranged from 81.5 to 108.6% for analytical method validation and from 73.8 to 86.7% for field recovery. Total exposed amounts to mixer/loader and applicator were found to be 0.0014-0.0279% of total applied active ingredient of imidacloprid. Glove exposure of both mixer/loader and applicator was higher than the other parts. Margins of safety of mixer/loader and applicator were calculated to be 97-355 and 46-196, respectively, indicating that exposure risk of imidacloprid to apple orchard workers by spraying with a speed sprayer was very low.

Risk of dermal and inhalation exposure to chlorantraniliprole assessed by using whole‐body dosimetry in Korea

“…apple, pear, and peach), as spraying occurs in an upward trajectory within trees. Here, the pesticide will drip down from the fruit onto the worker, leading to increased risk of exposure . However, with crops cultivated in submerged conditions, such as rice, pesticide exposure occurs often across the lower body (shins, thighs, and hips).…”

“…Here, the pesticide will drip down from the fruit onto the worker, leading to increased risk of exposure. 19 However, with crops cultivated in submerged conditions, such as rice, pesticide exposure occurs often across the lower body (shins, thighs, and hips). Here, when spraying onto lower crops (about 80-100 cm high), workers are exposed while moving.…”

Potential exposure and risk assessment of agricultural workers to the insecticide chlorantraniliprole in rice paddies

“…10 Recent studies have used fiberglass filters that were set in Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers which can reduce the risk of hurt and loss of resin during cutting the tubes. [14][15][16][17] The estimated pesticide exposure was compared with the acceptable operator exposure level (AOEL) to calculate the risk index (RI). 18 Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple cereal worldwide.…”

“…Glass tubes containing solid absorbents, such as XAD‐2 resin linked to personal air pumps, generally are used to measure inhalation exposure 10 . Recent studies have used fiberglass filters that were set in Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers which can reduce the risk of hurt and loss of resin during cutting the tubes 14–17 . The estimated pesticide exposure was compared with the acceptable operator exposure level (AOEL) to calculate the risk index (RI) 18…”