title: Dermal exposure and risk assessment of tebuconazole applicators in vineyards.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Models used in the pre-marketing evaluation do not cover all work scenarios and may over- or underestimate exposure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Uncertainties present in the extrapolation from pre-marketing to the post-marketing warrant exposure and risk assessment in real-life working conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven vineyard pesticide applicators were followed for a total of 12 work-days. A data collection sheet was developed specifically for this study. Workers' body exposure, hands, and head exposure were measured. Tebuconazole was analyzed using LC-MS/MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median potential and actual body exposures were 22.41 mg/kg and 0.49 mg/kg of active substance applied, respectively. The median protection factor provided by the coverall was 98% (range: 90-99%). Hand exposure was responsible for 61% of total actual exposure, and was reduced by more than 50% in workers using gloves. The German Model underestimated the exposure in one work-day, and grossly overestimated it in 3 work-days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of potential body exposure were efficiently controlled by the cotton coverall. Use of personal protective devices, especially chemically-resistant gloves and head cover is the main determinant of skin protection. Field studies on pesticide exposure in real-life conditions and development of methods and tools for easier risk assessment are necessary to complement and confirm the risk assessment done in the authorization process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan, International Centre for Rural Health of the San Paolo Hospital and Laboratory for Analytical Toxicology and Metabolomics (LaTMA). stefan.mandicrajcevic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandic-Rajcevic
authors.forename: Federico Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vianello
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fugnoli
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polledri
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercadante
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fustinoni
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colosio
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005062:European Union; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011481:Protective Clothing; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012869:Skin Absorption; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D027843:Vitis / Q000382:microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D014230:Triazoles; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C087114:tebuconazole