Pesticide exposure to greenhouse handgunners

Abstract

The exposure of pesticide applicators in a commercial greenhouse facility was assessed. Data were collected from four handgunners who applied fluvalinate (insecticide), chlorpyrifos (insecticide), ethazol (fungicide), and dicofol (miticide). Potential exposure was measured with exposure pads placed outside all clothing of the applicator. Handwashes and air samples were also collected, as were pre- and post-exposure tank mixture samples. Pesticide penetration was measured with exposure pads placed inside protective clothing. When all exposure assessments were normalized for spray rate, it was determined that applicators were at significantly greater potential dermal risk (excluding hands) from fluvalinate. The normalized air samples showed significantly more exposure to the applicator from ethazol. Exposure to outside pads was primarily (84%) to the legs of the applicators. Ethazol penetrated Tyvek coveralls more readily than the other compounds. Tank mixture analyses suggested that the wettable powder formulations were not well-mixed.

Chlorpyrifos exposures in Egyptian cotton field workers

“…Handgunning is quite similar to the type of spraying conducted in Egyptian cotton fields; that is, applicators walk through overhanging foliage while treating plants with a pressurized spray wand. Stamper et al [39] placed forearm and thigh patches outside the protective clothing of three applicators, as was the case in the present study. They collected data over 24 separate work days.…”

“…The dermal patch data can be compared directly with a study of chlorpyrifos exposure among handgunners in Florida greenhouses [39]. Handgunning is quite similar to the type of spraying conducted in Egyptian cotton fields; that is, applicators walk through overhanging foliage while treating plants with a pressurized spray wand.…”

Review : The Management of Pesticide Exposure in Greenhouses

“…Many studies [18][19][20][21][22][23] have indicated that skin is the more important exposure route for exposure to pesticides in greenhouse work. It has been shown that suitable clothing can protect greenhouse sprayers from the effects of the organophosphorous compounds that they are spraying [24].…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-92-022-2327, Green Circle Growers, Inc., Oberlin, Ohio.

“…Based upon available published reports concerning these pesticides, skin contact is a potential route of exposure for aldicarb (31) and oxamyl (32,33) (carbamate insecticides), fenamiphos (34) (an organophosphate nematicide), and fluvalinate. (35)(36)(37)(38) When samples of off-shore leaf materials were analyzed for 29 organophosphate and 10 carbamate pesticides, no residual pesticides were detected. Similarily, neither aldicarb sulfone nor oxamyl was detected on any of eight sampling glove monitors worn by greenhouse laborers while handling off-shore leaves.…”