Effects of exposure time, material type, and granular pesticide on glove contamination

Chemical-resistant gloves are recommended for pesticide applicators to redu ce their exposure to agricultural chemicals. In this research, three chemic al-resistant glove materials-nitrite, neoprene, and barrier laminate-were s tudied in relation to contamination with granular terbufos and tefluthrin. Surfaces of specimens backed with alpha cellulose were contaminated with 30 0 mg of either granular terbufos or tefluthrin for 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, and 24-h time periods in petri dishes in the laboratory. Residues were extract ed using ethyl acetate for terbufos and iso-octane for tefluthrin in test t ubes for 24 h. Analysis of extracts by gas chromatograph and statistical an alysis of the data showed that contamination levels varied with the time of exposure, material type, and pesticide used. Pesticide was not detected in the alpha cellulose even after 24 h contamination time. A linear relations hip was found between contamination level and exposure time for terbufos in the three materials, with longer exposure times causing higher contaminati on levels. Contamination of nitrile was significantly less than neoprene or barrier laminate. Exposed glove materials contained higher levels of conta mination of terbufos than tefluthrin.