Potential exposure to clothianidin and risk assessment of manual users of treated soil

Tracking pesticide exposure to operating workers for risk assessment in seed coating with tebuconazole and carbofuran

BACKGROUND

Coating seed with pesticides is an effective way to control plant pests, however, factory-based coating processes may carry a potential risk to operational workers of chemical exposure. To study the risk, carbofuran and tebuconazole were used to coat corn seed and their subsequent distribution on the bodies of workers was measured at manufacturers XFS and LS (Shanxi, China). Clothing was collected from workers during operations and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

At XFS, dermal exposure to carbofuran was 4.83, 3.31 and 1.48 mg kg^-1 , and exposure to tebuconazole was 6.88, 5.16 and 1.72 mg kg^-1 for coating, packing and transport workers, respectively. At LS, dermal exposure to carbofuran was 2.32, 0.46 and 0.55 mg kg^-1 , and exposure to tebuconazole was 1.69, 0.46 and 0.70 mg kg^-1 , for coating, packing and transport workers, respectively. The level of pesticide exposure was significantly higher for seed-coating workers than for packing and transport workers. The main area of exposure was the hands for all workers and the lower limbs for packers; exposure was relatively uniform for pesticide handlers. Occupational risk was assessed based on margin of exposure (MOE). In seed-coating, the MOE was greater than 100 for tebuconazole, indicating no potential risk, but ranged from 0.25 to 2.88 for carbofuran, indicating the risk of a health impact.

CONCLUSION

The level of exposure varied depending on type of operation undertaken and body parts of workers' body, but the risk of a health impact was highly associated with pesticide toxicity. This provides a guideline for workers in pesticide manufacturing to ensure safe operation of the seed-coating process. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessment of Handler Exposure to Pesticides from Stretcher-Type Power Sprayers in Orchards

The production and export volume of fruits from China are among the top three in the world. Pesticides are applied to orchards more than 10 times a year to control pests, and stretcher-type power sprayers are widely used to apply chemical pesticides. However, an assessment of pesticide-handler exposure to pesticides in this scenario has not been reported in China. The test pesticide, 30% SYP-9625 concentrate diluted 3000 times, was sprayed on apple orchards in Beijing China. Experiments were conducted to assess dermal and inhalation exposure using standard whole-body dosimetry and air-sampling methodologies. The dermal deposition was the main route of exposure in this study. The dermal unit exposure (UE) of handlers was 350 mg·kg−1 a.i. of SYP-9625. The hands accounted for 59% of the total exposure and were the most exposed body part. Inhalation UE was 0.720 mg·kg−1 a.i. of SYP-9625 and was negligible compared with dermal exposure. We found that use of protective garments while using stretcher-type powers sprayers reduced dermal pesticide exposure. These results can be used as a reference for the handler’s safety in pesticide management and orchard mechanical management.

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

BACKGROUND

We determined the characteristics and evaluated associated risks of sprayed pesticide exposure among workers cultivating Korean cabbage. The test pesticide, a mixture of 3% chlorantraniliprole and 4% indoxacarb wettable granules diluted 2000 times, was sprayed on Korean cabbage within a 3000 m² area in Goesan, Korea. Dermal exposures were measured using a whole-body dosimetry method.

RESULTS

Exposure to chlorantraniliprole was observed among ten individuals, ranging from 140.4 to 4234.0 µg person^-1 . The legs were the most prominent exposure area (86.35%), with the face being the least exposed (0.06%). Exposure risk was assessed by calculating the margin of safety (MOS) on the exposure amount for each body part. The MOS based on dermal and inhalation exposure doses ranged from 59 to 1765.

CONCLUSION

Exposure was the greatest for the legs, probably as a result of the low height of the crop and the use of a long-wand sprayer. An MOS value >1 indicates a low risk for applicators using this method of application. However, with tall crops, exposure level and MOS values can vary widely, as MOS increases or decreases based on exposure dose. Therefore, future research is needed to better understand appropriate safety precautions when working with potent pesticides. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.