| Title: | "High pesticide inhalation exposure from multiple spraying sources amongst applicators in Eswatini, Southern Africa" |
| Author(s): | Msibi SS; Chen CY; Chang CP; Chen CJ; Chiang SY; Wu KY; |
| Address: | "Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Department of Occupational Safety and Health, School of Safety and Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan. School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1526-4998 (Electronic) 1526-498X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Serious concerns surround the potential risks resulting from inhalation exposure to pesticides amongst agricultural workers when mixing and applying these compounds. In Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), Southern Africa, pesticides are widely used to improve the yield and quality of sugar cane production, the largest contributor to the country's economy. We assessed applicators' inhalation exposures from multiple spraying sources to four commonly used herbicides in Eswatini. RESULTS: Analysis of 76 personal air samples by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) revealed four pesticides: ametryn, atrazine, pendimethalin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, with mean concentrations of 36.91, 21.57, 31.05 and 0.89 mug m(-3) , respectively. These inhalation exposures are much higher than those recorded in previous similar studies. CONCLUSION: Although all applicators in this study used personal protective equipment (PPE), they nevertheless recorded high levels of inhalation exposure to commonly used pesticides. Our findings suggest that in addition to observing mandated regular changing and cleaning practices with PPE for ultimate personal protection, pesticide applicators should distance themselves from each other when spraying to effectively reduce their exposure to pesticides from multiple spraying sources. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal spraying distance between pesticide applicators. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry" |
| Keywords: | "Africa, Southern Agriculture Chromatography, Liquid Eswatini Humans Inhalation Exposure *Occupational Exposure/analysis *Pesticides/analysis Tandem Mass Spectrometry Africa applicators multiple spraying sources pesticides;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineMsibi, Sithembiso S Chen, Chung-Yu Chang, Cheng-Ping Chen, Chiou-Jong Chiang, Su-Yin Wu, Kuen-Yuh eng China Medical University/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ England 2021/05/05 Pest Manag Sci. 2021 Oct; 77(10):4303-4312. doi: 10.1002/ps.6459. Epub 2021 May 29" |
