Correlation of fluorescent tracer measurements of dermal exposure and urinary metabolite excretion during occupational exposure to malathion.
Nineteen workers conducting mixing and high-volume airblast applications of the organophosphorus pesticide malathion were monitored simultaneously by biological monitoring and fluorescent tracer evaluation of dermal exposure. Complete 72-hr urine samples were collected and analyzed for dimethylthiophosphate and dimethyldithiophosphate metabolites. Dermal exposure was measured through the addition of a fluorescent tracer to the tank mix, subsequent examination of the skin surface under long-wave ultraviolet light, and fluorescence quantification with a video imaging system. Dermal exposure to applicators was correlated highly with total metabolite excretion (r = 0.91). Mixer exposure was not correlated significantly (r = 0.73) because of wide scatter in the data and the small number of workers monitored. Applicator exposures were more than 3 times higher than mixer exposures, reflecting the high exposure potential inherent in airblast spraying. Exposure to regions protected by gloves or clothing was more than 75% of total exposure for both mixers and applicators. These results provide evidence that the fluorescent tracer technique is a valid methodology for measuring relative levels of dermal exposure during agricultural work activities. The technique also holds promise as a quantitative procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of engineering control strategies and protective clothing performance.
Fenske
R A
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Department of Environmental Science, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick 08903.
D000383:Agriculture; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008294:Malathion / Q000378:metabolism*; D063086:Organothiophosphates / Q000652:urine; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D063086:Organothiophosphates; C040340:O,O-dimethyl phosphorothionate; C040339:O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate; D008294:Malathion