PERSONAL EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDE AMONG WORKERS ENGAGED IN PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING OPERATIONS

Pesticide container handling operations in western Canada were examine d to determine the exposure of workers to residual pesticide in sortin g, metal-container crushing, metal-container shredding, plastic-contai ner shredding, metal washing, and metal melting. Environmental exposur e monitoring and biological monitoring were applied, including measure ment of pesticide deposition density on outer clothing (test coveralls and other protective wear), deposition on fabric and gauze patches un der the outer clothing, inhalation of airborne pesticide residues, dis lodgement of pesticide residues by hand washing, and pre- and postexpo sure urinary excretion of pesticide (2,4-D). Exposure levels were high ly variable; some variability was accounted for by work practices or l apses in protection. The highest levels of exposure were observed for metal washing, metal crushing and metal shredding; sorting and plastic shredding were intermediate, and metal melting was associated with ve ry little exposure. Urinary 2,4-D excretion, as an indicator of intern al dose, correlated most closely with exposure by the inhalation route , and both were highest for metal washing and shredding. Deposition of pesticide on garments was highest for metal crushing. Melting of wash ed metal does not appear to present a significant hazard of exposure. Recommendations are proposed for the protection of workers emphasizing health and safety guidelines, worker education, personal hygiene, exp osure and health monitoring, and record-keeping, and specific recommen dations for each process. These recommendations apply to all pesticide container recycling operations except melting of washed metal contain ers.