Operator contamination during pesticide application to tropical crops

Investigations to determine dermal contamination of rural farmers during pesticide application to tropical crops are described. Contamination patterns and levels vary according to crop type and height, and application method. Non-toxic model pesticides and tracer dyes were applied to rice, vegetable, mango, cotton and coffee crops in the Philippines, Thailand, Tanzania and Malawi, using knapsack and ULV spinning disc sprayers. Tracer dye falling on the operator during application was measured for each type of crop sprayed. Mean gross dermal deposits of dye were: rice 97 mg/hr; mango 257 mg/hr; vegetables 103 mg/hr; cotton 220 mg/hr; coffee 95 mg/hr. The implications of these gross dermal deposit figures in relation to pesticide contamination and hazard are discussed.