Pest control operators

Arrebola EJ, Martinex Vidal JL, et al. 1999. Excretion study of endosulfan in urine of a pest control operator. Toxicol Lett 107 15-20. 

No studies were found correlating levels to which humans were exposed with actual body burdens. However, an attempt was made to correlate blood levels of chlordane, which may contain from 6% to 30% heptachlor, to duration of occupational exposure. Blood samples from 51 male pest control operators who were occupationally exposed to chlordane were tested for the presence of chlordane and its metabolites trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, and heptachlor epoxide. The blood of 19 male workers with no experience spraying chlordane was also tested as a control. Heptachlor epoxide was detected (from not detectable to 1.6 ppb) in 20% of the blood samples from pest control operators exposed to chlordane (concentration not reported). The total chlordane in the blood was low but demonstrated sizable correlation with the number of spraying days and the amount of chlordane sprayed (Saito et al. 1986). 

Saito I, Kawamura N, Uno K, et al. 1986. Relationship between chlordane and its metabolites in blood of pest control operators and spraying conditions. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 58 91-97. 

Chlordane - America s leading lawn and garden insecticide. Used extensively by pest control operators for termite control, because of its long lasting effectiveness. 

Fortunately, pest-control operators and others are now proceeding more cautiously, and fogging is recognized for what it is—a specialized control procedure for certain specific insect problems, not a cure-all for any problem that has presented unusual difficulties. As a specialized procedure it works best when special formulas and special equipment are used—formulas and equipment designed for the various special fogging problems, after research has first revealed the difficulties and how to overcome or avoid them. 

Diethylthiophosphate (DETP), a potential diazinon metabolite, was found in urinary samples from pest control operators exposed to diazinon by inhalation (Weisskopf et al. 1988). 

Hayes AL, Wise RA, Weir FW. 1980. Assessment of occupational exposure to organophosphates in pest control operators. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 41(8) 568-575. 

A major summary of reentry incidents from 1966 to 1979 classified 86 of 25,500 pesticide incident reports as reentry incidents (9). These reported cases included all classes of reentry incTdents from pest control operators to fieldworkers. 

In Australia, the most extensive set of data involves 4640 blood samples analysed for OCPs at the New South Wales Workcare Authority from 1987 to 1989. The vast majority of samples contained less than the occupational limits 50ppb (pg L-1) of dieldrin and less than 20ppb (pg L-1) of heptachlor. Of the 49 samples above the occupational limit 44 of these were from pest control operators (NHMRC, 1992). An earlier NSW study by Siyali (1972) compared whole blood levels of organochlorine insecticides from persons with and without industrial pesticide exposure. Levels of HCB, total DDT, dieldrin and HCH (BHC) were substantially higher in the exposed group, particularly for dieldrin. 

Uses Pure parathion is a pale yellow liquid with a faint odor of garlic at temperatures above 6°C. Technical-grade parathion is a deep brown to yellow liquid. Parathion is one of the most acutely toxic pesticides registered by the USEPA, which has classified parathion under RUP hence it should be handled, by qualified, trained, and certified workers in pest control operations. In January... 

OPs have been in use for several decades as important chemicals for the control of crop pests. With their chemical and biochemical reactions, OPs have been well established as extremely poisonous chemicals. This classification is due to the inhibition of the marker enzyme ChE, which is produced in the liver. Blood enzymes provide an estimate of tissue enzyme activity. After acute exposure to OPs or a nerve agent, the erythrocyte enzyme activity most closely reflects the activity of the tissue enzyme. Once the OPs inhibit the tissue enzyme, it cannot hydrolyze ACh, and the accumulation stimulates the affected organ. Based on the manner of exposure (dose and duration) to different OPs, a series of toxicity signs and symptoms set in the organism, leading to death. These are important aspects to be closely monitored among pest control operators and occupational workers exposed to OPs. 

Pest control operators who are professionally trained to properly apply restricted use of agrochemicals as well as other agrochemicals deployed in disease vector control and termite control. 

Handling the Vaporizers does not appear to cause any significant decrease in cholinesterase activity among those doing the handling, nor is the cholinesterase activity affected by the prolonged contact of the Vaporizers with the skin of the forearm. In the ordinary days work, the householder or the pest control operator would not be expected to handle the Vaporizer as much as 30 minutes each day even under the most unusual conditions. Under ordinary circumstances, the contact of the resin vaporizer with the skin would not persist for 30 minutes in any one day and would not be continued day after day. 

Restrict the availability of pesticides (especially class 1 and class 2 pesticides) to users unless qualified, trained, and certified operators supervise the pest control operations. 

Das, Y.T., P.K. Taskar, H.D. Brown and S.K. Chattopadhyay (1983). Exposure of professional pest control operators to dichlorvos (DDVP) and residue on house structures, Toxicol. Lett., 17, 95-99. 

Urinary concentrations in 130 pest-control operators exposed to pentachlorophenol ranged from 0.003 to 35.7 pg/ml (mean 1.8) (A. Revenue et al.. Bull, envir. Contam. Toxicol., 1967, 2, 319-332). 

Sprayers are the most common pesticide application equipment. They ate standard equipment for nearly every professional pesticide applicator and are used in every type of pest control operation. Sprayers range in size and complexity from simple, hand-held models to intricate machines weighing several tons. 

A hand-carried sprayer which operates under pressure, created by a self-contained manual pump. Capacity usually 1-3 gallons. Commonly used by homeowners and pest control operators. Figure 8.5 shows an illustration of hand-carried sprayer, and Figure 8.6 shows the application of insecticide also using a hand-carried sprayer. 

Air blast sprayers use a combination of air and liquid rather than hquid alone to deliver the pesticide to the surface being treated. They are used in agricultural, ornamental and turf, biting fly, forestry, livestock, and right-of-way pest control operations. 

These are sprayers that use special pesticide concentrates. They may be used in agricultural, ornamental, turf, forestry, right-of-way, biting fly, and some structural pest control operations. ULV sprayers may be hand-held or mounted on either ground equipment or aircraft. 

Dusters are used mostly by home gardeners and by pest control operators in structures. 

Dipping vats are large tanks (vats) of liquid pesticide mixture used to treat livestock for external parasites. They are used in farm, ranch, and regulatory pest control operations. Portable dipping vats are usually trailer-mounted tanks with a set of folding ramps and railings. The animals are driven up the ramp onto a platform and forced into the tank so they are completely immersed. The animal s head may have to be pushed under the surface. 

Spray-dip machines are used to treat livestock for external parasites. They are used in farm, ranch, regulatory, and other livestock pest control operations. 

Pest control operators found using a banned pesticide would be jeopardizing their license and livelihood. For these reasons illegal use is not considered to be a major reason for the spread of DBCP contaminated ground water throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The most likely source is the large amount of residual DBCP, stored and continuously moving down the soil profile. 

Leng et al. (2005) found positive correlations between pyrethroids in house dust and in airborne particles, especially one day after pest control operation. Concentrations of pyrethroids in indoor suspended particulate matter and household dust were also measured over a period of 25 months in an experiment simulating indoor pest control (Berger-Preiss et al. 1997). House dust was collected using a modified vacuum cleaner, where the usual dust bag was replaeed by Soxhlet filter tubes, which were preferred as they allowed a quantitative transfer of the particles into de Soxhlet extractor. Moreover, it was found that the Soxhlet filter tubes retained (90%) smaller particles better than the usual dust bags (30%). Initial concentrations of deltamethrin and permethiin were 150-800 and 50 pg g , depending on the commercial formulation applied. The eoneentration levels of both compounds decreased by a factor of about 10 within the first 12 months, but remained practically constant the following year. 

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