Exposure of commercial pesticide applicators to the herbicide alachlor.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Biagini R ; Henningsen G ; MacKenzie, Barbara A. ; Ringenberg V ; Sanderson, Wayne T.
• Description:
  (2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N-[methoxymethyl] acetanilide), one of the most common pre-emergent herbicides used on com and soybean crops, is considered to be carcinogenic in rodents. However, exposure and health information on humans is lacking. A study of commercial pesticide applicators, who apply a variety of herbicides and insecticides to agricultural cropland, was conducted to characterize their exposure and estimate internal dose to alachlor. Surveys were conducted at 5 application companies in Illinois and 7 in Ohio. A total of 20 applicators, 7 hauler/mixers, and 18 controls participated in the study. Participants in the study wore air samplers to measure inhalation exposure and clothing patches to estimate skin deposition. Hand and glove washes, and surface wipe samples were collected to evaluate hand exposures to alachlor. To estimate the absorbed dose of alachlor, urine samples were collected at the beginning and end of the shift, and the morning after the exposure survey. Inhalation exposures ranged from 0.28 to 6.4 ug/m3 with a mean of 2.1 ug/m3. The deposition of alachlor on the skin ranged from 0.03 to 4.0 ug/cm2 with a mean of 0.63 ug/cm2 o The legs generally received more deposition of alachlor than any other part of the body. Hand wash and glove rinse samples indicated that the hands were also an area of heavy alachlor exposure; post-shift hand wash samples and rinses of the inside of the gloves ranged from 0.11 to 281 ug. The concentrations of alachlor metabolites in the urine ranged from < 1 to 25 ppm with a mean of 5.9 ppm. Those workers with higher inhalation and hand exposures tended to have greater concentrations of urinary metabolites. Alachlor exposures were found to be higher for this group of commercial pesticide applicators than have previously been reported for other applicators and mixers. Individual work practices had a direct impact on the variability of exposure and dose concentrations. Practical steps can be taken to reduce exposure and internal noise, such as proper use of pesticide resistant gloves and aprons.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Aluminum Silicates Eye Diseases Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Safety Silicates
• Keywords:
  Agricultural-industry Agricultural-workers Air Sampling Alachlor Carcinogens Chemical Properties Chemicals Environmental Exposure Exposure Levels Gloves Hand Washing Hazards Herbicides Humans Insecticides Men Metabolites Pesticides Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals Physical Properties Risk Factors Safety-practices Skin Skin Exposure Toxic-effects Urine Women Work Environment Worker-health Workers

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• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  553
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055988
• Citation:
  Papers and Proceedings of the Surgeon General's Conference on Agricultural Safety and Health (FarmSafe 2000). Myers ML, Herrick RF, Olenchock SA, Myers JR, Parker, John E., Hard DL, Wilson K, eds. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-105, 1992 Sep; :553
• CAS Registry Number:
  Alachlor (CAS RN 15972-60-8)
• Editor(s):
  Myers ML ; Herrick RF ; Olenchock SA ; Myers JR ; Parker, John E. ; Hard DL ; Wilson K
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Papers and Proceedings of the Surgeon General's Conference on Agricultural Safety and Health (FarmSafe 2000), April 30-May 3, 1991, Des Moines, Iowa
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:90ae610248e02f1fbbad6fc69cdc945adf131220bfe707b3872eaa04efcf850104c2cc56ab3c6bd88be3a231e5803b4577a964857143c30d82dac71a9dba02ef
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181759/cdc_181759_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 64.64 KB ]