Tl. Guidotti et al., PERSONAL EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDE AMONG WORKERS ENGAGED IN PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING OPERATIONS, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal, 55(12), 1994, pp. 1154-1163
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.