Evaluation of respiratory and cutaneous doses of chlorothalonil during re-entry in greenhouses.
Five female workers were monitored for 5 consecutive days during re-entry into a greenhouse containing ornamental plants. Skin contamination (excluding hands) was evaluated with nine pads of filter paper placed on the skin. Hand contamination was assessed by washing with 95% ethanol. Respiratory exposure was evaluated by personal air sampling. The respiratory dose was based on a lung ventilation of 15 l/min. The doses absorbed were estimated assuming 10% skin absorption and 100% lung retention. Dislodgeable foliar residue was determined on days of re-entry to evaluate the decay of chlorothalonil. Chlorothalonil was analysed in the different matrices by GC-MS. Respiratory exposure was less than skin contamination, being 11.4+/-5.1% (mean+/-SD) of total exposure. The estimated total absorbed dose did not exceed the acceptable daily intake of 0.03 mg/kg body mass. The hands and unexposed skin of all workers were always found to be contaminated. Greater precautions are therefore needed to reduce skin exposure (clean gloves and suitable clean clothing every day).
Aprea
Cristina
C
Department of Occupational Toxicology and Industrial Hygiene, Strada del Ruffolo, 53100 Siena, Italy. maaprea@tin.it
Centi
Letizia
L
Lunghini
Liana
L
Banchi
Bruno
B
Forti
Maria Aurelia
MA
Sciarra
Gianfranco
G
D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D009570:Nitriles / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D012869:Skin Absorption
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D009570:Nitriles; C005806:tetrachloroisophthalonitrile