Pesticide routes

Figure 7.6 F-N Curve Pesticide Route Option Comparison...

Extremely toxic carbamate pesticide routes of entry—ingestion, skin absorption, and inhalation of vapors although the vapor pressure is very low [0.00002 torr at 33°C (91.4°F)], because of high toxicity, even trace inhalation could be harmful can cause death if swallowed, absorbed through skin or inhaled ingestion of about 0.5- to 2-g... 

Reaction with Amines and Ammonia. Carbonates react with amines and ammonia to produce carbamates or ureas. This reaction can be used as an alternative route to producing carbamate pesticides. 

Examples of Synthesis Routes Inherently Safer Than Others As summarized by Bodor (1995), the ethyl ester of DDT is highly effective as a pesticide and is not as toxic. The ester is hydrolytically sensitive and metabolizes to nontoxic products. The deliberate introduction of a structure into the molecule which facilitates hydrolytic deactivation of the molecule to a safer form can be a key to creating a chemical product with the desired pesticide effects but without the undesired environmental effects. This technique is being used extensively in the pharmaceutical industry. It is applicable to other chemical industries as well. 

Skin is also important as an occupational exposure route. Lipid-soluble solvents often penetrate the skin, especially as a liquid. Not only solvents, but also many pesticides are, in fact, preferentially absorbed into the body through the skin. The ease of penetration depends on the molecular size of the compound, and the characteristics of the skin, in addition to the lipid solubility and polarity of the compounds. Absorption of chemicals is especially effective in such areas of the skin as the face and scrotum. Even though solid materials do not usually readily penetrate the skin, there are exceptions (e.g., benzo(Lt)pyrene and chlorophenols) to this rule. 

The reaction of enamines with iminium salts provides an alternative route to Mannich bases which are an attractive class of compounds, since they have found many applications (synthesis of drugs, pesticides, synthetic building blocks, etc.). This methodology has several basic advantages compared to the classic aminomethylation procedure15-18-24 ... 

In a case-control study of pesticide factory workers in Brazil exposed to methyl parathion and formulating solvents, the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes was investigated (De Cassia Stocco et al. 1982). Though dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was coformulated with methyl parathion, blood DDT levels in the methyl parathion-examined workers and "nonexposed" workers were not significantly different. These workers were presumably exposed to methyl parathion via both inhalation and dermal routes however, a dose level was not reported. The exposed workers showed blood cholinesterase depressions between 50 and 75%. However, the baseline blood cholinesterase levels in nonexposed workers were not reported. No increases in the percentage of lymphocytes with chromosome breaks were found in 15 of these workers who were exposed to methyl parathion from 1 week to up to 7 years as compared with controls. The controls consisted of 13 men who had not been occupationally exposed to any chemical and were of comparable age and socioeconomic level. This study is limited because of concomitant exposure to formulating solvents, the recent history of exposure for the workers was not reported, the selection of the control group was not described adequately, and the sample size was limited. 

Figure 3-5 graphically depicts the information that currently exists on the health effects of methyl parathion in humans and animals by various routes of exposure. The available literature reviewed concerning the health effects of methyl parathion in humans described case reports of longer-term studies of pesticide workers and case reports of accidental or intentional ingestion of methyl parathion. The occupational exposure is believed to be via the dermal and inhalation routes. The information on human exposure is limited in that the possibility of concurrent exposure to other pesticides or other toxic substances cannot be quantified. 

The most important routes of exposure to endosulfan for the general population are ingestion of food and the use of tobacco products with endosulfan residues remaining after treatment. Farmers, pesticide applicators, and individuals living in the vicinity of hazardous waste disposal sites contaminated with endosulfan may receive additional exposure through dermal contact and inhalation. 

The main routes of release of endosulfan to soils are application of the compound to crops and land disposal of unused formulated pesticide products containing the compound. 

In occupational settings, exposure to endosulfan is mainly via the dermal and inhalation routes. Although workers involved in the manufacture and formulation of pesticide products containing endosulfan are potentially exposed to high concentrations of the compound, actual exposure is probably limited by the use of engineering controls and personal protection equipment. The highest documented dermal and inhalation exposures have been reported for agricultural workers involved in the spray... 

Oudbier AJ, Bloomer AW, Price HA, et al. 1974. Respiratory route of pesticide exposure as a potential health hazard. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 12 1-9. 

Hardy, A.R. (1990). Estimating exposure The identification of species at risk and routes of exposure. In L. Somerville and C.H. Walker (Eds.) Pesticide Effects on Terrestrial Wildlife, 81-98, London Taylor Francis. 

Plant uptake is one of several routes by which an organic contaminant can enter man s food chain. The amount of uptake depends on plant species, concentration, depth of placement, soil type, temperature, moisture, and many other parameters. Translocation of the absorbed material into various plant parts will determine the degree of man s exposure—i.e., whether the material moves to an edible portion of the plant. Past experience with nonpolar chlorinated pesticides suggested optimal uptake conditions are achieved when the chemical is placed in a soil with low adsorptive capacity e.g., a sand), evenly distributed throughout the soil profile, and with oil producing plants. Plant experiments were conducted with one set of parameters that would be optimal for uptake and translocation. The uptake of two dioxins and one phenol (2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP)) from one soil was measured in soybean and oats (7). The application rates were DCP = 0.07 ppm, DCDD 0.10 ppm, and TCDD = 0.06 ppm. The specific activity of the com-... 

For most chemicals, inhalation is the main route of entry into the body. However, certain chemicals (e.g. phenol, aniline, certain pesticides) can penetrate intact skin and so become absorbed into the body. This may occur through local contamination, e.g. from a liquid splash, or through exposure to high vapour concentrations. Special precautions to avoid skin contact are required with these chemicals and potential exposure via skin absorption has to be taken into account when assessing the adequacy of control measures. Chemicals able to penetrate intact skin are listed in Table 4.2. 

This validation typically requires samples with radiolabeled analytes. However, alternative approaches are proposed which involve (i) comparison with extraction of samples using a procedure which has been previously validated rigorously, (ii) comparison with extraction of samples by a very different technique or (iii) analysis of a certified reference material. Generally, this validation should be performed with samples containing analyte incurred by the route by which residues would normally be expected to arise. The simplest option (i) requires fully validated and documented enforcement methods provided by the manufacturer of a pesticide. 

Biological sampling determining routes of wildlife exposure to pesticides... 

Data should show pesticide occurrence and dissipation in important matrices during the study period (Figure 1). This has been extensively covered in other articles and will not be elaborated here. Exposure routes should be characterized well enough to quantify the dosages that are experienced by nontarget organisms. This is often... 

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