Comparative hygienic assessment of working conditions and potential risks for workers' health when applying pesticides in different technics

Abstract

In the structure of regional and planetary pollutants, pesticides are in the top ten, and among food contaminants along with heavy metals – they occupy first place in the world. It is known that pesticides and agrochemicals, which belong to the group of biologically active compounds, are one of the important factors affecting the human body.
 The aim: comparative hygienic assessment of working conditions and occupational risk when using pesticides by different methods of application (knapsack, rod, ventilator, unmanned and aviation) on the example of the fungicide Amistar Extra 280 SC.
 Materials and methods. Field studies were conducted in 2018–2021. When applying the formulation knapsack sprayer SOLO-10, trailed boom sprayer AMAZON 1201 UF combined with a tractor MTZ 82.1 Belarus, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for spraying fields Agras T16, AN-2 aircraft combined with OZh-2 were used.
 Results. As a result of field researches of working conditions of employees during the performance of production operations on the pesticides application, it was found that in the air treatment areas and in areas of possible drift the levels of studied active ingredients were below the limit of quantification of the method. The difference between azoxystrobin (0,04±0,003) and cyproconazole (12,4±0,5) for the tank refueler and the UAV external pilot in the field studies is significant according to Student's criterion (p >0,05). For the operator who applied the pesticide with a knapsack sprayer, the values of inhalation risks were significantly higher than for the tankers of the sprayer tank at p >0,05. The values of the combined risk when using a fan sprayer (0,46±0,02) significantly exceeded the data obtained when using a rod sprayer (0,14±0,006)
 Conclusions. Analysis of the obtained results showed that the values of the combined risk are significantly higher for the operator / tractor driver, signalman than for their refuelers (at p <0,05). The values of the combined risk of the external pilot were significantly lower than those of the tanker when using a pesticide using a UAV.

The Problem of Regulating Fungicides on the Skin Surface for Occupational Skin Disease in Agricultural Workers’ Risk Prediction

“…The analysis of the obtained results regarding the predominant localizations of the effect of pesticides on the workers' skin showed similarities with the results obtained in other experiments under other application conditions [11,12,13]. The primary exposure areas for all workers were the hands and lower limbs [11,12].…”

“…Combined risk values for operators/tractor drivers where 0.12-0.46, for pilots -0.09-0.13, for signalman -0.59. The risk of hazardous exposure was less than one [13]. Similar results were obtained under the conditions of using different groups of pesticides to protect melon crops, and the risk for tank-filling operators and tractor drivers was acceptable.…”