Pesticide hygiene

Medved LI (1976) Summary results and prospective goals of research in pesticide hygiene and toxicology. In Pesticide Use Hygiene, Toxicology and Clinical Features of Poisonings. Moscow, n, 1 3-13. 

Present address Entomological Sciences and Pesticide Division, U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, Edgewood Arsenal, Md. 21010. 

Activities include the areas of agriculture (except pesticides), household, food hygiene and other industrial, commercial, medical and veterinary applications. 

This practice went on until recently. Four hundred eighty-one formulations and compounds were included in the official list of pesticides permitted for use in agriculture from 1986-90 [14]. In 1990, the MPC and other health protocols were developed for only 127 pesticides in food products, 105 pesticides in bodies of water used for hygiene and drinking, 78 pesticides in fishery reservoirs, 31 pesticides in farm animal feed, 81 pesticides in the soil, and 119 pesticides in work zone air [1]. There were no MPCs for the remainder of the pesticides permitted for use and, according to existing rules, they should not have been used. Nevertheless, they were. 

The pesticide storage situation in the 1960-70s was typical of what was found in Uzbekistan only 40% of 1082 storehouses met health and hygiene requirements [A62]. Towards the end of the 1980s, only 75% of the pesticides used in the USSR were provided with storehouses [1]. A significant number of the chemical substance storehouses (20% in Russia, 23% in Ukraine) did not meet elementary health requirements. In Azerbaijan, there were no specialized storehouses for pesticides at all - these chemicals were being stored together with mineral fertilizers [19]. From that time on, very little has changed. 

Brouwer, D.H. and van Hemmen, J.J. (1994) Fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) to the hazard selection of PPE for various pesticide exposure scenarios in greenhouses, in Book of Abstracts of the American Industrial Hygiene Conference Exposition, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Anaheim, CA. 

Fenske, R.A. (1988) Comparative assessment of protective clothing performance by measurement of dermal exposure during pesticide applications, Appl. Ind. Hygiene, 3 207-213. 

Methner, M.M. and Fenske, R.A. (1994) Pesticide exposure during greenhouse applications. Part II. Chemical permeation through protective clothing in contact with treated foliage, Appl. Occup. Environ. Hygiene, 9 567-574. 

Brouwer, R., Brouwer, D.H., De Mik, G., and van Hemmen, J.J. (1992) Exposure to Pesticides. Part I. The Cultivation of Carnations in Greenhouses, S131-1, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, The Hague, The Netherlands also published in Am. Ind. Hygiene Assoc.., 53 575-581, 1992. 

Jongen, M.J.M, Engel, R., and Leenheers, L.H. (1991) High performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of occupational exposure to the pesticide abamectin, Am. Ind. Hygiene Assoc. ]., 52 433-437. 

Chester, G. (1993) Evaluation of agricultural worker exposure to, and absorption of, pesticides, Am. Occup. Hygiene, 37 509-523. 

Wnuk M, Kelley R, Breuer G, et al. 1987. Pesticides in water samples using surface water sources. Des Moines, IA Iowa Dept, of Natural Resources and Iowa University Hygienic Laboratory. PB88-136916. 

W. Poppendorf, M. Selim, andN. Lewis, "Exposure While Applying Industrial Antimicrobial Pesticides," Am. Ind. Hygiene Assoc. J., in press (1994). 

Kostovetskii, Y.I., Nasishten, S.Y., Tolstopyatova, G.V., Chegrinets, G.Y. (1976) Hygiene aspects of pesticide use in the catchment areas of water bodies. Vodn. Resur. 1, 67-72. 

A.P. Leber, and T.J. Benya, Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, in Patty s Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 4th ed., Volume n, Part E. G.D. Clayton and F.E. Clayton, eds., New York, John Wiley Sons, p. 1540, 1994. 

Hygienic behaviour - worker care in regard to pesticide handling can also have substantial impact on exposure. Workers who avoid mixing and spraying during windy conditions can reduce their exposure. Proper use and maintenance of protective clothing are also important behaviours associated with reduced chemical exposures. 

It is clear that for operators the application rate of the pesticide, relevant meteorological conditions, liquid pressure at the nozzle, geometry of crop and application equipment are very important variables (van Hemmen, 1992a). Furthermore, work methods and hygienic measures taken by the operator (e.g. wearing of protective clothing) also affect exposure. 

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