Long-Term Studies of Fungicide Concentrations in Greenhouses. 3. Exposure Risks after Spraying in Greenhouses

Abstract

The study presented concerns the dermal exposure risks during harvest work in greenhouses after fungicide application. The contamination of the fungicide vinclozolin on clothes, overalls and gloves, worn during harvest after application was investigated. The fungicide was extracted from the cloth with 1-chlorobutane and finally determined with HPLC. The average amount of fungicide found on the clothes, the potential exposure, was 25 mg after 8 h of work in the greenhouse. It was estimated that most of the fungicide amount was found on gloves. Assuming a maximum uptake of vinclozolin (on bare skin) of 10%, the value of the dermal exposure was estimated to be 2.5 mg/day. In the absence of threshold values for dermal, exposure a comparison was made with recommended values for acceptable daily intake of foodstuffs. This comparison reveals that the assumed dermal exposure is higher than the value set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency but lower than the value given by the World Health Organization. Thus, the use of protective garments during harvesting, especially on the hands, is recommended. Keywords: Exposure; health risks; fungicides; vinclozolin; cucumber; greenhouse

Biotransformation of Vinclozolin by the Fungus Cunninghamella elegans

“…The potential for human exposure to vinclozolin in a greenhouse was estimated to be 25 mg after 8 h of work and the dermal exposure (on bare skin) to vinclozolin was estimated as 2.5 mg/day. This value is higher than the value permitted by the U.S. EPA (Nilsson and Papantoni, 1996).…”

Project to assess current approach and knowledge with a view to develop a Guidance document for pesticide exposure assessment

“…The exposure values were normalized for 8h to compare with the model. Nilsson and Papantoni, 1998. Harvest workers in greenhouses (cucumbers) were monitored for exposure to vinclozolin by using cotton dosimeters.…”