A video imaging technique for assessing dermal exposure. II. Fluorescent tracer testing

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Safety
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Dermal exposure to pesticides poses significant health risks to agricultural workers.
• Accurate measurement of pesticide exposure is crucial for implementing effective protective measures.
• Current methods for assessing dermal exposure can be complex and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability of a fluorescent tracer combined with video imaging for measuring dermal pesticide exposure.
• To determine the correlation between a fluorescent whitener agent and malathion deposition and penetration.
• To assess the feasibility of using this method in both laboratory and field settings.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory and field experiments were conducted using 4-methyl-7-diethylaminocoumarin as a fluorescent tracer and malathion as the pesticide.
• Video imaging analysis was employed to quantify tracer and pesticide deposition.
• Penetration studies were performed using cotton/polyester workshirt and coverall materials.

Main Results:

• High correlations (r = .985) were observed between the fluorescent tracer and malathion under controlled conditions.
• Field deposition levels also showed strong correlation (r = .942), though application-specific sampling is recommended.
• Penetration through workshirt material was highly correlated (r = .979), while coverall penetration was more variable (r = .834).

Conclusions:

• The fluorescent tracer method is a viable tool for measuring dermal pesticide exposure.
• The method demonstrates high accuracy in laboratory settings and good correlation in field applications.
• Further research may be needed to account for variability in fabric penetration and compound solubility for precise field measurements.