Worker exposure and protective clothing performance during manual seed treatment with lindane.
Twelve workers were monitored for exposure to 18.75% lindane dust formulation during manual wheat seed treatment. The mean total actual exposure rate was 32.89 mg/hr. Potential respiratory exposure averaged 0.0057 mg/hr (less than 1% of the total), with seven workers receiving no measurable respiratory exposures. Mean hand exposure was 1.84 mg/hr (5.6%). Dermal exposure to the head and neck averaged 4.28 mg/hr (13%). Exposure measured beneath the workshirt and workpants averaged 26.8 mg/hr (81.4%). The workshirt and workpants provided 3.4-fold and 11.5-fold protection factors, respectively. Forearm exposure measured beneath the workshirt represented more than 40% of total actual exposure. The small contribution of hand exposure to total dermal exposure was consistent with the use of chemical-resistant gloves by all workers. Total dermal exposure could be reduced substantially by wearing coveralls over regular work clothing, and by the use of guantlet-type gloves. It is recommended that worker education concerning personal hygiene and the appropriate use of protection clothing be made essential components of exposure reduction programs.
Department of Environmental Science, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University, New Brunswick 08903.
R A
RA
Fenske
A M
AM
Blacker
S J
SJ
Hamburger
G S
GS
Simon
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane