Efficiency of safety measures applied to a manual knapsack sprayer for paraquat application to maize (Zea mays L.)

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 1998-11, Vol.35 (4), p.698-701
• Main Authors: Machado-Neto, J.G. (Sao Paulo State University, Brazil.), Matuo, T, Matuo, Y.K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biological and medical sciences; Cereal crops; Chemical control; Corn; Efficiency; Equipment Design; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungicides; Gloves; Herbicides - standards; Humans; INDUMENTARIA DE PROTECCION; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Occupational Exposure; OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS; Occupational medicine; PARACUAT; PARAQUAT; Paraquat - standards; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Pesticides; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PROTECTIVE CLOTHING; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; PULVERISATEUR; PULVERISATION; PULVERIZACION; PULVERIZADORES; RIESGOS OCUPACIONALES; RISQUE PROFESSIONNEL; Safety; SAFETY AT WORK; SECURITE DU TRAVAIL; SEGURIDAD EN EL TRABAJO; SPRAYERS; SPRAYING; SPRAYING PRECAUTIONS; Sprays; VETEMENT DE PROTECTION; Weeds; Working conditions
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s002449900433

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the safety of mixer/loaders and applicators of paraquat to maize crop by knapsack sprayers and to determine the efficacy of safety measures applied to the sprayers. Potential dermal exposure (PDE) was evaluated in 22 worker body parts. The Cu2+ cation of a copper-based fungicide was used as tracer in the spray solution. Sanitary pads and cotton gloves were used to collect the pesticide solution on the sampled body parts. It was observed that paraquat application in front of the applicator's body (0.5 and 1.0 m lance) is unsafe because PDE was 1,979.8 ml/day (for 0.5 m lance) and 1,290.4 ml/day (for 1.0 m lance) and needs 50-80% and 37-69% control of PDE respectively. Control can be achieved by the use of protective garment on the legs and feet only, which received 92-93% of the PDE. Switching the spray nozzle to the back of the operator reduced the PDE by 98% and was sufficient to make working conditions safe, while maintaining the efficiency of application and making the work lighter and more comfortable. Mixer/loaders received 86% of the PDE to the hands and the work condition was safe (MOS > 1), however impermeable gloves could be used as a further safety measure.