Analysis of the Dissipation Behavior of Defoliants in Cotton Fiber during Field and Scouring Process Using Liquid and Gas Chromatography

Abstract

Defoliants carried by cotton fiber could harm production workers and consumers through respiratory and dermal exposure. This study was carried out to evaluate the dissipation behavior of four commonly used defoliants tribufos, diuron, thidiazuron, and ethephon in cotton fiber during field stage and also in cotton scouring using liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Field trials showed that although all the defoliants dissipated fast, however, the fiber from the tribufos and ethephon applied field had considerable potential to exceed the maximum residue limit when the fiber was harvested at common intervals after application of defoliants. The defoliant residues could be removed completely from the defoliant-carrying cotton textiles during alkaline scouring. The results indicated that attention should be paid to the risk of occupational exposure to these defoliants rather than consumer exposure. Fiber harvest on the tribufos and ethephon applied fields is recommended after a 1-week delay in order to reduce the residues to an acceptable level.

Untitled

“…In non-agricultural places like roadsides, airports, industrial buildings, drains, irrigation, ditches and waterways paraquat dichloride has also been utilized. 14 Nucleophilic centers of cellular biomolecules, including DNA has proven to establish a covalent bond with highly reactive compounds such as herbicides. Undesirable effects to human health, causing damage to the DNA molecules that led to potential adverse reproductive results, an initiation of cancer, and other chronic illnesses associated with the the non-selective use of herbicides subsequent to their biological activity.…”