Exposure factors pesticide usage

Pesticide usage factors include those factors needed to characterize the amount of pesticide an individual is potentially exposed to each day, as well as the duration, frequency and interval of potential exposures. For example, for mixer/loaders/ applicators, this would include hectares typically treated per day, typical application rates, types of equipment used, and whether application is conducted by the farmer or a custom applicator. 

Where defensible, harmonization of exposure factors, including physiological, pesticide usage and lifestyle factors. 

Exposure factors The inputs used to translate unit exposure values (p-g/kg a.i. handled) to estimates of an individual s daily exposure (pg/kg b.wt./d), which can then be compared to no effect levels in mammalian toxicology studies or acceptable operator exposure levels (AOELs). Exposure factors can be categorized as (i) physiological (inhalation rates, body weights and lifespan), (ii) pesticide usage (dmation of activity, acreage Peated per day, etc.) and (iii) lifestyle (activity patterns and co-occurrence information) (Norman, Ch. 10). 

Much NCRPIAP research has been directed toward the determination of the risk factors related to applicator and field worker exposure to pesticides. Several such research papers have been presented In this symposium and others have already appeared In print. This presentation may reiterate some data that have already been reported and attempt to correlate such with pesticide use and personal protection data obtained through surveys. Pesticide usage data reported herein are that obtained In the 1982 survey of major field crops In Ohio (10) but are applicable to most states, particularly in the North Central Region, involved In corn, soybean, grain and alfalfa production as noted in the regional survey of 1978 (11). 

The establishment of a statistically sound data-set on usage allows an evaluation of likely operator exposure, as realistic work rates can be derived from the data collected, such as average field size, area sprayed per operator per day, amount of pesticide handled per day, etc. All of these factors are vital in refining predicted operator exposure models, and are discussed at length by Hamey (2001). 

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