Use of Fluorescent Tracers and Video Imaging to Evaluate Chemical Protective Clothing during Pesticide Applications.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fenske RA
• Description:
  Fluorescent tracers and video imaging were used to evaluate chemical protective clothing penetration by pesticides during field applications. Workers in California citrus orchards (17 applicators and eight mixers) used the same air blast sprayer for mixing and application. Malathion (121755) and fluorescent tracer, 4-methyl-7- diethyl-aminocoumarin were mixed (tank ratio 5.7:1), after which each applicator sprayed four tank loads. Clothing worn by workers included baseball caps, half mask respirators with pesticide cartridges, neoprene gloves, workboots, 100% cotton T-shirts, and 65%/35% cotton/polyester (CP) workpants. Workers wore coveralls of nonwoven Tyvek, coveralls of 65%/35% CP fabric (27.2mg/cm2 weight), or workshirts of 50%/50% CP fabric (11.0mg/cm2 weight). A computer based imaging system interfaced with a television camera was used to quantify dermal fluorescence. A series of exposure episodes in which each worker's exposure potential was similar was created. Results showed that in general, little exposure occurred in the leg areas of mixers and applicators regardless of clothing worn. The faces and necks were unprotected exposed body regions, hands showed measurable exposure despite gloves being worn, and almost all received exposure to arms and torso despite protective clothing. Hand exposures of mixers were much higher than those of applicators (138 micrograms (microg) versus 58microg). Glove removal was common due to physical discomfort, and some tears were also evident. High exposure of mixers' and applicators' hands represented 41% and 13%, respectively, of their total exposures. The cotton coverall provided 50% reduction, and the nonwoven Tyvek, 80% reduction of exposure. The cotton workshirt provided less protection than either of the coveralls, and actual penetration of the material was found. The author concludes that substantial pesticide penetration of protective clothing occurs during airblast applications, and that the new technique has potential for rapid evaluation of protective clothing effectiveness under field conditions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Insecticides Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Safety Skin
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Grant; Grants-other; Agricultural-workers; Body-protection; Protective-clothing; Occupational-exposure; Pesticides; Protective-measures; Skin-exposure; Skin-protection; Crop-spraying
• Publisher:
  American Society for Testing and Materials
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00220936
• Citation:
  Performance of Protective Clothing: Second Symposium 1988:630-639
• Contact Point Address:
  Biomedical & Environ Hlth Scis University of California School of Public Health Berkeley, Calif 94720
• CAS Registry Number:
  Malathion (CAS RN 121-75-5)
• Editor(s):
  Mansdorf SZ; Sager R; Nielsen AP
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1988
• NORA Priority Area:
  Other Occupational Concerns ; Grants Other
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19810101
• Source Full Name:
  Performance of Protective Clothing: Second Symposium
• End Date:
  19840731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/243300/cdc_243300_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]