Assessment of applicators' exposure to pesticides during knapsack mist sprayer application in rice fields

This study quantifies potential dermal and inhalation exposure to the pesticide tetrachlorantraniliprole among 26 applicators using knapsack mist sprayers in rice fields across three Chinese provinces. Potential dermal exposure, assessed via the whole-body method, was the predominant route, accounting for the majority of total exposure. The back, thighs, lower legs, and gloves were the most contaminated body regions, with average unit exposure ranging from 108.3 to 824.6 mg/kg of active ingredient handled. Potential dermal exposure levels followed an approximately lognormal distribution and varied significantly across regions and levels of personal protection. Statistical modeling using intercept-only lognormal mixed and simple random sampling models yielded reliable unit exposure estimates (geometric and arithmetic means) for regulatory risk assessment, all within a 3-fold accuracy range at the 95% confidence level. Study findings highlight the critical influence of protective practices on exposure levels and underscore the urgent need for improved protective measures and safety training for pesticide applicators in China.