This study developed and verified a test method for the screening and selection of fabric finishes proposed for use in protective garments for agricultural workers exposed to pesticide sprays. Six nonwoven and four woven fabrics with and without barrier finishes were tested for aerosol spray penetration using 0.1% methylene blue dye as an indicator of pesticide penetration with three spray emulsions: (1) water; (2) water/surfactant (48:1); and (3) unrefined cottonseed oil/surfactant (4:1). The procedure was repeated using the following pesticide emulsions: (1) water/malathion (100:4) and (2) unrefined cottonseed oil/malathion (100:8). Analysis of variance was used to compare the results of the water/malathion and the results of the cottonseed oil/malathion spray tests between categories of dye penetration. In each case, there was significant difference between group variation. Duncan's Multiple Range Test (p < 0.05) indicated that fabrics that did not allow penetration by the methylene blue dye had significantly lower levels of malathion present in the extracts. The spray tests indicated that aerosol spray penetration was reduced by the presence of fluorocarbon barrier finishes on the fabrics.

Woven and nonwoven fabrics with and without barrier finishes were tested for resistance to aerosol spray penetration and physical factors which contribute to comfort desirable for protective clothing for pesticide applicators. An aerosol spray test procedure was developed to test the following spray carriers: (1) water, (2) water/surfactant (48:1), and (3) unrefined cottonseed oil/surfactant (4:1). All the carriers contained 0.1% methylene blue dye as an indicator. Physical properties (for example, density, weight, thickness, water vapor, and air permeability) were examined as indicators of fabric comfort. The presence of fluorocarbon-based finishes increased the resistance to aerosol spray penetration. Based on the physical test results and the aerosol penetration test, the spunlace nonwoven fabrics ranked highest for disposable protective garments.

The author wishes to express her gratitude for their support during this project. A special thank you is extended to Cone Mills Corporation for the donation of fabrics. In addition, the author wishes to thank the members of the Wilderness Center Alumni Club, the St. Andrew's Singles Group and her fellow graduate students for providing a break from the work required to complete a graduate program. The author is extremely grateful for the support of her entire family throughout her graduate program. Without the support and encouragement of her parents, Ben and Leola Milikin, this work could not have been completed.

A pilot test was conducted, with all data generated according to FIFRA GLP standards, to monitor and quantify the barrier efficiency of two disposable test suits for mixers/loaders and applicators in hot, humid weather. The study was performed using AAtrex Nine-O as an example of an herbicide applied to row crops. The two test suits were SMS (spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded polypropylene fabric) with a repellant finish and Sontara FC (wood pulp/polyester/spunlaced fabric) with a fluorocarbon finish; a 100% cotton chambray suit with a fluorocarbon finish was used as a control. The study design included three workers wearing each suit type for a work cycle of three tank applications. The cycle included mixing/loading the formulation and subsequent ground boom spray application of the formulation. To determine the amount of atrazine residue, twelve outside and twelve inside alpha-cellulose patches were attached to the suits and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography. The average barrier efficiency against atrazine penetration, formulated as AAtrex Nine-O, was 97% for the SMS suit s compared to 80% for the Sontara FC test and the small cotton chambray control suit.