Risk assessment of dermal exposure of greenhouse workers to pesticides after re-entry

Abstract

On 18 farms for rose culture in greenhouses in The Netherlands, dermal exposure of hands and forearms to abamectin (avermectin B1), dodemorph (4-cyclododecyl-2,6-dimethylmorpholinium acetate) and bupirimate (5-butyl-2-(ethylamino)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl dimethylsulphate) was measured during crop activities. Dermal exposure during cutting (75 workers) amounted to 13 micrograms/h, 1.8 mg/h, and 2.2 mg/h for abamectin, dodemorph and bupirimate, respectively. Dermal exposure to abamectin and dodemorph during sorting (21 workers) and bundling (30 workers) was comparable with that during cutting. From the dependence of dermal exposure on the amount of dislodgeable foliar residue (DFR) a transfer factor was estimated to be 1,200, 4,550, and 2,400 cm2/h for abamectin, dodemorph and bupirimate, respectively. For sorting and bundling these factors were of the same order of magnitude. The results suggested that work rate was also a determinant of dermal exposure. The within-farm variance of dermal exposure during cutting appeared to account for approximately 30% of the unexplained part of the variation remaining after regression on DFR and application technique. The final unexplained part in the variation of dermal exposure during cutting was amongst others due to the variation between the different farms in which the measurements were performed. A health risk evaluation of the observed levels of dermal exposure after re-entry of greenhouses led to the conclusion that a health hazard may exist, especially after application of high rates of relatively toxic pesticides which easily penetrate the skin.

Evaluation of inhaled and cutaneous doses of imidacloprid during stapling ornamental plants in tunnels or greenhouses

“…This value was similar to those obtained during stapling of Scindapsus treated with chlorthalonil in the same workplace (Aprea et al, 2002) but was lower than those obtained in other studies conducted by different laboratories, concerning exposures to several pesticides: during crop activities (cutting, sorting and bundling) for roses culture in greenhouses a transfer factor of 1200, 4550 and 2400 cm 2 /h was estimated for abamectin, dodemorph and bupirimate, respectively (Brouwer et al, 1992c). During mechanical tomato harvesting a transfer factor of 40 cm 2 /h were reported from undershirt analysis, whereas a value of about 450 cm 2 /h was obtained from potential skin exposure data (Spencer et al, 1991).…”

Chromosome aberrations in pesticide-exposed greenhouse workers

“…The effect of the spraying season was primarily observed for the workers who had not used gloves during re-entry activities when performing nonspraying job tasks involving high-dermal exposure, such as nipping, cutting, pricking, and potting. These findings agree with the generally accepted assumption that exposure to pesticides during re-entry activities mostly occurs through the hands and forearms, pesticides being taken up either percutaneously or orally (3)(4)(5). Although we could not show any clear effects of smoking on chromosome aberrations in general, the greenhouse workers who had not used protective gloves and were current smokers showed a much higher risk ratio of chromatid gaps than the nonsmokers did.…”

“…Hence the actual exposure of greenhouse workers probably occurs in re-entry activities such as cutting and trimming cultures recently treated with pesticides. The main route of uptake is through the skin, in particular on the hands and forearms, and some exposure may also occur orally (3)(4)(5).…”

Assessment of Exposure for Pesticide Handlers in Agricultural, Residential and Institutional Environments

“…The categorization of workers by van Hemmen (1992), according to work activity, environment and application techniques, represents the most thorough analysis to date of exposure variability within and across mixer/loader and applicator groups.…”