LONG-TERM STUDIES OF FUNGICIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN GREENHOUSES .3. EXPOSURE RISKS AFTER SPRAYING IN GREENHOUSES

The study presented concerns the dermal exposure risks during harvest work in greenhouses after fungicide application. The contamination of the fungicide vinclozolin on clothes, overalls and gloves, worn during harvest after application was investigated. The fungicide was extract ed from the cloth with 1-chlorobutane and finally determined with HPLC . The average amount of fungicide found on the clothes, the potential exposure, was 25 mg after 8 h of work in the greenhouse. It was estima ted that most of the fungicide amount was found on gloves. Assuming a maximum uptake of vinclozolin (on bare skin) of 10%, the value of the dermal exposure was estimated to be 2.5 mg/day. In the absence of thre shold values for dermal, exposure a comparison was made with recommend ed values for acceptable daily intake of foodstuffs. This comparison r eveals that the assumed dermal exposure is higher than the value set b y the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency but lower than the value gi ven by the World Health Organization. Thus, the use of protective garm ents during harvesting, especially on the hands, is recommended.