Operator exposure when applying amenity herbicides by all-terrain vehicles and controlled droplet applicators.
A total of 33 surveys of amenity herbicides took place during 1998-1999. These surveys concentrated on two application methods: all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and controlled droplet applicators (CDAs). The purpose of these surveys was to measure surface deposition and potential inhalation exposure of the operators to the spray fluid used. This paper recommends that the following indicative values should inform risk assessments for these types of application. ATV: The potential dermal exposure (PDE) to spray fluid (21 sample sets) ranged between 0.7 and 6.8 ml/h of spray fluid, median 2.0 ml/h based on patch samplers. Exposure to the hands, as collected on cotton gloves, ranged between 0.6 and 13.6 ml/h, median 3.0 ml/h. Potential exposure to spray fluid by inhalation was found in 85% of the samples, range 7-37 mg/m(3), median of non-zero values at 16 mg/m(3). CDA: The PDE to spray fluid (12 sample sets) ranged between 0.003 and 0.826 ml/h of fluid, median 0.133 ml/h, based on patch samplers. Exposure to the hands, as collected on cotton gloves inside protective gloves, ranged up to 0.06 ml/h, median 0.004 ml/h, and on socks ranged up to 0.05 ml/h, median 0.001 ml/h. Potential exposure by inhalation was low: detected in just 33% of the samples, range 0.02-0.61 mg/m(3), median 0.12 mg/m(3).