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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-05-2013 | Original Article

Personal air sampling and risks of inhalation exposure during atrazine application in Honduras

Authors: Matthew J. Lozier, Jose Francisco Lopez Montoya, Alexis del Rosario, Esperanza Pintor Martínez, Laurence Fuortes, Thomas M. Cook, Wayne T. Sanderson

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 4/2013

Abstract

Purpose

To assess occupational inhalation exposure to the herbicide atrazine during pesticide application in a developing country.

Methods

Personal air samples were collected during atrazine application using a personal sampling pump equipped with an OSHA Versatile Sampler (OVS-2) sorbent tube. Samples were collected from 24 pesticide applicators in Honduras. Application was observed during sampling, and a survey was completed in the home.

Results

Fourteen of the 24 participants used pump backpack sprayers to apply atrazine and 10 used tractor/boom systems. Despite applying about 15 times as much atrazine, the tractor/boom participants (11.5 μg/m³) had only slightly higher (not statistically significant) time-weighted averages (TWA) than participants using backpack sprayers (9.6 μg/m³). Within the backpack sprayer group, those that used a cone spray nozzle (11.54 μg/m³) had nearly double the TWA than applicators using a flat spray nozzle (5.98 μg/m³; P = 0.04). In the tractor/boom group, the participants that rode on the boom or the back of the tractor monitoring nozzles (15.0 μg/m³) had almost double the average TWA than tractor drivers (8.0 μg/m³; P = 0.097).

Conclusions

Since tractor/boom pesticide application decreases the number of man-hours required to apply pesticides, and does not increase inhalation exposure significantly, it decreases the overall population occupational exposure. Monitoring nozzles on booms from a distance rather than on the back of a tractor or boom may decrease or eliminate inhalation exposure. Use of flat spray nozzles for herbicide application among pump backpack sprayers may reduce their inhalation exposure.

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Title: Personal air sampling and risks of inhalation exposure during atrazine application in Honduras
Authors: Matthew J. Lozier
Jose Francisco Lopez Montoya
Alexis del Rosario
Esperanza Pintor Martínez
Laurence Fuortes
Thomas M. Cook
Wayne T. Sanderson
Publication date: 01-05-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0776-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Personal air sampling and risks of inhalation exposure during atrazine application in Honduras

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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