Protection afforded greenhouse pesticide applicators by coveralls: a field test

Applicators of chlorpyrifos, fluvalinate, and ethazol to ornamentals in a Florida greenhouse were monitored for exposure in a replicated experiment. Pesticide exposure was assessed, using pads placed inside and outside three types of protective coveralls. Potential total body accumulation rates, excluding hands, as calculated from outside pads, depended strongly upon the rate at which pesticide left the spray nozzles. When these total body rates were normalized for spray rate, the mean results, in mg-deposited/kg-sprayed, ranged from 166 to 1126, depending upon the compound applied and the application device. Overall penetration of pesticide through a disposable synthetic coverall was 3 +/- 1% for chlorpyrifos and fluvalinate, and 35 +/- 9% for ethazol. Penetration through a reusable treated twill coverall was 19 +/- 6% for chlorpyrifos, 22 +/- 13% for fluvalinate, and 38 +/- 5% for ethazol.