Dermal exposure of amateur or non-occupational users to wood-preservative fluids applied by brushing outdoors.
The results of an experiment to determine the likely dermal exposure of amateur or occasional users to wood-preservative fluids, applied by brushing onto a wooden fence outdoors are presented. Exposure was measured using FIVES, a fluorescence monitoring technique developed at the Health and Safety Laboratory. Dermal exposure could be examined and measured in a detail that would have been impossible using any other technique. A number of factors were found to affect dermal exposure, including some that were unexpected. Trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and permeable gloves offered 20 times the protection of shorts and a T-shirt. Differences between individual subjects' behaviour gave rise to variations of a factor of 10. There was far more contamination at lower ambient temperatures, possibly because of more vigorous brushing. Spirit-based fluid caused more exposure than water-based fluid, probably because the spirit flicked easily from the brush as a spray whereas the water remained in soapy globules. Only 1.6 times more fluid was applied in 1 h than in 0.5 h, but it caused 3.7 times as much contamination.
Roff
M W
MW
Health and Safety Laboratory, Sheffield, UK.
D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007306:Insecticides; D016014:Linear Models; D026023:Permethrin; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011722:Pyrethrins; D012867:Skin; D013696:Temperature
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; D026023:Permethrin