The Exposure Assessment To Pesticide Handlers Spraying In The Wheat And Peanut Field

The occupational exposure to pesticides for applicators has been played a veryimportant role to ensure security of pesticides handlers’ health. However, in China, theapplicating environment is extraordinary, the situation of exposure to pesticides handlers isnot optimistic, the occupational exposure to pesticides have been become a great health riskto applicators and drawn wide attention. This article emphasizes on dermal exposureassessment applying the whole body dosimetry methods for pesticides handlers. Theanalytical methods have been developed in order to determine dermal exposure toimidacloprid, chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin for pesticides handlers, experimentswere also carried out in the wild to get the exposure and distribution to three pesticides forapplicators when spraying in the wheat and peanut field. And the main results were asfollows:1The exposure detection methods to three pesticides have been established andvalidated. The exposure to imidacloprid for pesticides handlers was detected by HPLC.LOD and LOQ were0.05μg/ml and0.15μg/ml respectively. The recovery rate of hoodedcoverall(100%cotton), gloves(100%cotton) and XAD-2resin were among81.50%～99.92%, RSD were all lower than4.07%; The exposure to chlorpyrifos for pesticideshandlers was detected by GC-FPD. LOD and LOQ were0.005μg/ml and0.015μg/mlrespectively. The recovery rate of hooded coverall(100%cotton), gloves(100%cotton) andXAD-2resin were among79.16%～95.36%, RSD were all lower than5.82%; The exposureto lambda-cyhalothrin for pesticides handlers was detected by GC-ECD. LOD andLOQ were0.025μg/ml and0.075μg/ml respectively. The recovery rate of hoodedcoverall(100%cotton), gloves(100%cotton) and XAD-2resin were among84.94%～98.75%, RSD were all lower than6.76%.2The exposure results of applicators spraying in the wheat and peanut field. To theresult of imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos, the main exposed area was the lower part ofapplicators, the UE was between168.46～977.75μg/g, taking up76.16%～93.75%of thetotal the total UE of applicators, and it related to crops-treated, applicators’ habits andsprayer; To the upper part of applicators, the most exposed area was chest or back, the UEwas between3.06～142.56μg/g, taking up1.12%～11.10%of the total UE of applicators, and it related to the larger area adsorbing more droplets and wind; the least part wasinhalation part, the UE was lower than1.77μg/g, taking up lower than0.14%of the total UEof applicators, it related to the further distance from the nozzle; in general, if applicatorswere right-handed, the exposure to the right side of applicators was more than that of leftside, especially the most exposed part, it related to margin and frequency of applicatorswhile spraying, or vice versa; however, to the result of lambda-cyhalothrin, the total UE was22.01μg/g, the main exposed areas were check and back, the UE were6.00μg/g and3.73μg/g, taking up27.26%and16.96%, respectively, it related to wind and accidentalpollution besides the larger area adsorbing more droplets.3The applicators should strengthen protection awareness. In order to ensure security,applicators should adopt scientific and reasonable protection, and make selective protectionto some parts. Applicators should have the awareness to strengthen the protection of lowerbody spraying in the wheat and peanut field, especially the lower legs; to the upper body,chest and back parts should be strengthened to protect; the right side of body should bestrengthened to protect if the pesticide handlers are right-handed, or vice versa;hands protection is very important, and can not be ignored.