Pesticides in the Cultivation of Carnations in Greenhouses: Part I—exposure and Concomitant Health Risk

Abstract

Respiratory exposure and dermal exposure of the hands and forearms to the pesticides chlorothalonil, thiophanate-methyl, thiram, and zineb during application and during crop activities have been measured on 18 farms for carnation culture in glass-covered greenhouses in the Netherlands. Farms were selected according to a "worst case" strategy with regard to dermal exposure during cutting of flowers. For 94 workers, the geometric mean dermal exposure rate during cutting (measured on long-sleeved cotton glove monitors) was 10.1 mg/hr (active ingredient per unit of actual working time) and during sorting/bundling of these flowers by 35 workers the dermal exposure rate was 7.3 mg/hr. The average concentration in air as measured by personal air sampling during cutting after a pesticide had been dusted was 0.07 mg/m3. For the same area, spraying a pesticide exposed the applicator to a dermal exposure seven times higher than dusting. However, during dusting respiratory exposure was higher. Generally, overall exposure is higher during re-entry activities than during application. From the observed levels of dermal exposure during harvesting (re-entry) and from toxicity data, health risk occurs after application of pesticides that are relatively toxic and show relatively good skin-penetrating properties at relatively high application rates. The respiratory exposure to dusted pesticides after re-entry is about as high as during application of these pesticides and may in some situations also result in health risks. Training and education of greenhouse workers on (personal) hygiene and use of protective gloves are advocated in order to reduce exposure.

Impaired Reproductive Development in Sons of Women Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides during Pregnancy

“…In temperate climates, the highest occupational pesticide exposure likely occurs in greenhouses—especially in the production of ornamental plants and cut flowers—that involve inadequate ventilation, frequent application of pesticides, and manual handling of the treated plants (Brouwer et al 1992; Illing 1997). Many women in fertile age groups are employed in this industry, with a total of approximately 2,500 women in Denmark.…”

Risk Assessment of Florists Exposed to Pesticide Residues through Handling of Flowers and Preparing Bouquets

“…Even for the worst cases of exposure (e.g., clofentezine or methiocarb), the values are rather similar to previously reported data. Only results of dermal exposure reported by Brouwer et al [17] for workers in contact with flowers at the field were significantly higher. Average exposures of 0.8571 mg/kg bw per day during cutting and 0.6000 mg/kg bw per day during sorting and bundling of carnations were observed.…”

“…As skin is generally recognized as the primary route of exposure to pesticides [17,18,19,20,21,22], the transfer of pesticide residues to the hands could contribute significantly to the total exposure. According to their physical and chemical properties (physical state, vapor pressure, Henry constant, solubility, hydrolysis rate), many pesticides sprayed on cut flowers are in the form of persistent, fat-soluble pesticide residue, which can be dislodged from the two-sided foliar surface of a plant or after spraying.…”

The Crystal Structure of Zineb, Seventy-Five Years Later

“…Over the years, EBDTC fungicides raised significant concerns about their environmental and health impacts, which led to a recent ban on the use of zineb in the United States and EU . While acute toxicity of EBDTCs is relatively low, they are irritants to mucus and skin membranes, and suspected teratogens and carcinogens. − Considerable research has been directed toward assessing the environmental effects of zineb, its residues, − and degradation products , Structurally, zineb has been thoroughly investigated by number of studies, mostly using spectroscopic , and thermal methods. − To the best of our knowledge, the crystal structure of this important solid has not been described.…”