Dermal dosimeters

Among the first dermal dosimeters used in exposure research were 4 x 4-in cellulose or gauze patches which were pinned to the outer and inner surfaces of clothing or vests which farm workers would wear during the application or re-entry phase of the smdy. These patches were easy to manufacture and when pinned to the shirt or pants of the worker made for an easily used dosimeter pad. The major advantage to the use of the patch to estimate worker exposure was this method s ability to differentiate the relative contributions of pesticide residues to different parts of the worker s body. This sampling technique in turn could lead to recommendations (i.e., the use of... 

Field fortifications were prepared to check the field/storage stability of the dermal dosimeters, handwashes, and air filters. The field fortifications were prepared using the formulated product undiluted for "high" level spikes and diluted with water (-1 pg/mL chlorpyrifos) for the "low" level field spikes. Field fortification solutions for urine were prepared from a 3,5,6-TCP standard in acetonitrile utilizing an 1.2-pg/mL solution for the "high" field fortifications and an -0.01-ug/mL solution for the "low" level fortifications. 

Farm worker exposure to pesticides has been studied extensively over the past 30 years.This scientitic discipline has evolved from the days when respiratory exposure of farm workers was measured using gauze dosimeters placed inside respirators to collect airborne pesticide residues to very sophisticated air sampling devices and remarkable dosimeter devices to measure dermal exposure to farm workers. ... 

Both inner and outer whole-body dosimeters are common tools to measure successfully dermal exposure to pesticide workers and are employed in a variety of ways in mixer-loader/applicator or re-entry studies. 

In order to determine the dermal exposure of volunteers to chlorpyrifos, the penetration of chlorpyrifos through the outer whole-body dosimeter (coveralls) to the inner body dosimeter (t-shirt and briefs) was measured. The penetration factor was calculated for each volunteer in the study from the experimental data by dividing the amount of chlorpyrifos on the t-shirt and brief sample by the amount of chlorpyrifos on the torso section of the coveralls. This method of calculation assumes that the surface area of the torso section of the coveralls is nearly the same as the surface area of the t-shirt and briefs worn directly under the torso section of the coveralls. A mean penetration factor for each worker type was calculated by averaging all the worker volunteer... 

Studies in indoor environments of dermal contact transfer required an estimate, and a tight-fitting whole-body dosimeter was adopted and initially considered as a surrogate for skin (Krieger et al., 2000). Contact with treated surfaces was limited to feet, hands, limbs, and torso. Standardized Jazzercize to represent daily human activities and maximum contact was incorporated into protocols for indoor exposure studies (Ross et al., 1990,1991). Comparative studies will be reported elsewhere (Krieger et al., 2000). 

Potential dermal exposure (PDE) was the sum of the amount of chlorpyrifos retained by the dosimeter (socks, gloves, and union suit) during the 20-min exposure period. Absorbed daily dose (ADD) was the sum of chlorpyrifos equivalents measured in urine for days 2,3, and 4. Home-use biomonitoring data are expressed as chlorpyrifos equivalents per day, as exposure continued throughout the test period. 

Whole-body dosimeter (n = 13) External 10% penetration 9.6% dermal absorption 13,758 1376 132 Day ... 

The WBDs retained an average potential dermal exposure (PDE) of 13,757 pg chlorpyrifos. If clothing penetration is assumed to be 10% and dermal absorption 9.6% per 24 hr, then the absorbed dose would be 132 pg, and the absorbed dosage would be about 1.9 pg/kg. Biological monitoring of the 13 volunteers wearing cotton dosimeters indicated that the absorbed daily dose that penetrated the WBD and was absorbed was 2 pg chlorpyrifos equivalents/kg (Table 2). 

The patch method (although not as popular today) and the use of whole-body dosimeters are both reasonable methods for determining dermal deposition on the skin of agricultural workers during application of pesticides or when they re-enter treated fields. 

In the early 1980s, the whole-body dosimeter (WBD) was introduced as a superior method for passive dermal dosimetry monitoring. A standard protocol was described by the World Health Organization (1982), and Abbott et al. (1987) described some additional options. Chester (1993) reported refinements that permitted exposure estimation by passive dermal dosimetry and biological monitoring simultaneously. 

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