Evaluation of Dermal Exposure to the Herbicide Alachlor Among Vegetable Farmers in Thailand

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bunngamchairat A ; Kongtip P ; Mahaboonpeeti R ; Nankongnab N ; Tipayamongkholgul M ; Woskie S ; Yoosook W
• Description:
  Vegetable farmers applying the herbicide alachlor may be highly exposed through dermal contact when spraying. Dermal patches were attached to 10 locations on the farmers' skin when they mixed and applied alachlor in vegetable farming areas in Thailand. Measurements were made on farmers using either a backpack sprayer with a 2 stroke gasoline motor and fan or a battery operated pump. Forty-seven vegetable farmers in Bungphra subdistrict of Thailand participated in this study. Both motorized and battery pump backpack sprayers wearing long-sleeve shirts had significantly lower alachlor concentrations on the dermal patches under their long-sleeve shirts compared to those who wore only short-sleeve shirts, regardless of the sprayer type. Moreover, sprayers wearing long pants had significantly lower alachlor concentrations on dermal patches placed under the pants on the lower legs than those wearing short pants, regardless of the sprayer type. The highest estimated alachlor exposures were found on the upper legs (median = 9.29 microg/h) for those using a 2 stroke engine/fan backpack sprayer and on the lower legs (2.87 microg/h) for those using the battery operated pump backpack sprayer. The estimated total body alachlor exposures of applicators using the 2 stroke engine/fan backpack sprayer (219.48 microg/h) were significantly higher than those using the battery operated pump backpack sprayer (15.50 microg/h). Using long-sleeve shirts as personal protection reduced alachlor exposures for the arms 97-99% and wearing long pants reduced alachlor exposure to the legs for 81-99%. Thus, training about the protection provided by clothing choices would be one step in improving the health and safety of Thai farmers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Insecticides Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Safety Skin
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Workers Agriculture Alachlor Author Keywords: Alachlor Battery Pump Backpack Sprayers Dermal Exposures Gloves Motorized Backpack Sprayers Patch Tests Personal Protective Equipment Pesticide Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals Protective Clothing Skin Tests Vegetable Farmers

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• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  62
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052909
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2018 Nov; 62(9):1147-1158
• Contact Point Address:
  Pornpimol Kongtip, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
• Email:
  pornpimol.kon@mahidol.ac.th
• CAS Registry Number:
  Alachlor (CAS RN 15972-60-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150928
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• End Date:
  20210731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9119a5b5194069cfdd883b5fe1bb54b80455e4d29d35d745668e64a76fd454b0e23e3e90f4334c724b9bf79812dba0c8ca782abf5c3f52dd03d0e24263537e98
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215815/cdc_215815_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.86 MB ]