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Monitoring and Control of Exposure to Buprofezin in Greenhouses

Maria Cristina Aprea, Letizia Centi, Liana Lunghini, Bruno Banchi, Giulio Bracalente and Gianfranco Sciarra

The aim of this study was to assess dermal and respiratory exposure of workers to Buprofezin during spraying and during stapling of previously treated ornamental plants in greenhouses. Eight workers were monitored. A combination of hand washing and pads placed on the skin was used to evaluate actual skin contamination. The efficacy of protective clothing was evaluated placing pads on top of outer clothing. Respiratory exposure was evaluated by personal air sampling. Respiratory dose was calculated on the basis of a lung ventilation of 15 l/min for females and 20 l/min for males. Absorbed doses were calculated assuming a skin penetration of 40% and a respiratory retention of 100%. Dislodgeable foliar residues (DFRs) were evaluated during re-entry. Buprofezin was determined by gas chromatography with selective mass detection in all matrices. Respiratory dose was 1.5-12.8% and 3.6-15.4% of the total real dose during spraying and stapling, respectively. The estimated absorbed doses, 0.05-0.57 μg/kg body weight and 0.19-1.54 μg/kg body weight during spraying and stapling, respectively, were less than the acceptable operator exposure level of 40 μg/kg body weight. During stapling, a mean dermal transfer factor of 1.13 cm2/h was estimated. During spraying, the efficacy of protective clothing depends on the spraying device used. During stapling, daily replacement of cotton gloves appears to reduce actual exposure. Since proper use of equipment and protective clothing is essential, training of workers is of fundamental importance.