Mancozeb sprayer

Maneb and mancozeb are widely used fungicides in the agriculture and forestry industries. Exposure to these compounds can be via ingestion, inhalation, or dermal pathways, especially in sprayers who do not use protective measures. Much of the information about effects in humans from exposure to these pesticides comes from reports of agricultural workers or home use. Often exposure was likely to involve both inhalation and oral routes, or inhalation and dermal routes, and in some cases, all three routes may have contributed to total exposure. Thus, when discussed in this text, levels of exposure to these pesticides is expressed as mg/kg/day to reflect total exposure per estimated body weight. 

Maneb and mancozeb. Acute exposure to maneb at doses of 1.1 mg/kg/day (de Carvalho et al. 1989) and 229 mg/kg/day (Koizumi et al. 1979) were associated with metabolic acidosis in male fungicide sprayers. 

For inorganic manganese compounds, dermal exposure is not a typical pathway of exposure because manganese does not penetrate the skin readily. For organic manganese, dermal exposure is a possibility with all compounds discussed in this profile. This exposure pathway is most likely, however, with MMT, maneb and mancozeb, where occupational workers (mechanics, workers in the gasoline industry, pesticide manufacturers and sprayers) are likely to handle large quantities of these compounds. 

Maneb or mancozeb. Fifty pesticide sprayers with potential inhalation exposure to maneb for at least 6 months showed neurological symptoms even though their blood manganese levels (7.7 3.1 ng/lOOmL) did not differ statistically from the unexposed control group (8.8 7.0 ng/100 mL) (Ferraz et al. 1988). 

Maneb or mancozeb. Studies show that maneb and mancozeb are metabolized to several compounds including ethylenethiourea (ETU), ethylene urea, and ethylenediamine (Jordan and Neal 1979 Lyman 1971) in plants and animals. ETU has been identified in the urine of occupationally-exposed sprayers of maneb and mancozeb (Kurttio and Savoleinen 1990 Kurttio et al. 1990). No studies were located concerning the metabolism of manganese originating from these fungicides in either humans or animals. 

Specific Spray Conditions. The field locations, equipment used and conditions for spraying potato fields with mancozeb by fixed-wing aircraft are presented in Tables II and III. Similar data for application of mancozeb by a ground alrblast sprayer (tomatoes) and by a compressed air sprayer (home yard) are given in Tables IV and V respectively. 

Table IV Application of Mancozeb by a Ground Air-Blast Sprayer...

Application of Mancozeb In a Home Yard With a Compressed Air Backpack Sprayer... 

Spray Equipment 7.57 L backpack compressed air sprayer Object of Spray shrubbery, small trees, flowers, lawn Chemical mancozeb, 80% wettable powder Spray Volume full coverage to point of run off Rate 22.5 mL per 3.785 L water Time of first subject ... 

Table IX presents the exposure of persons Involved In the ground application of mancozeb by an alrblast sprayer to a tomato field In Ohio. Mixer-loaders again experienced exposure to mancozeb with forearms predominating (2856-3485 iig/body area). Tractor driver—applicators did not experience much exposure, but forearms did range from nondetectable to 1090 yg/body area. Home gardeners using a compressed air sprayer In a homeyard setting experienced little exposure to mancozeb (Table X), except for their ankle and thigh pads (nondetectable-4290 yg/body area).

The dermal and inhalation exposure of applicators and mixer-loaders to ethylenebisdlthlocarbamate and ethylenethlourea (ETU) was determined during field applications of mancozeb by airplanes In Michigan, Minnesota and Oregon, by alrblast sprayers In Ohio and by... 

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