Modelling worker exposure to plant protection products - the EU - - PDF document

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Modelling worker exposure to plant protection products - the EU Browse project

Pieter Spanoghe Kim Doan Ngoc Ghent University International Fresenius Conference „Worker, Operator, Bystander and Resident Exposure and Risk Assessment“, 4 to 5 December 2012 in Mainz near Frankfurt/Germany

The BROWSE project

• BROWSE = Bystanders, Residents, Operators and

WorkerS Exposure models for plant protection products

• Start project: January 2011
• End project: December 2013
• Info: www.browseproject.eu
• Partners:

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Goals of BROWSE

• To develop improved exposure models to

assess the risks from exposure to plant protection products (PPPs) for:

– Operators (WP1) – Workers (WP2) – Bystanders and residents (WP3)

Goals of BROWSE

• To take account of relevant gender issues (WP4)
• To involve representatives of all relevant

stakeholders and end-users (WP4)

• To contribute to the implementation of:

– Regulation 1107/2009 on authorisation of PPPs (WP5) – Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) (WP6)

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Priority exposure scenarios

Exposure scenario = combination of crop and task

OUTDOOR INDOOR Harvesting

• rchard

fruit Harvesting grapes Harvesting

• rnamentals

Harvesting fruiting vegetables

Exposure routes

hand-to-mouth contact

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Dermal exposure: basic model

DE = DFR x TC x T

DFR Dislodgeable Foliar Residue (µg/cm²) TC Transfer coefficient (cm²/h) T Duration of Exposure (h/d)

Dermal exposure: basic model

DFR Dislodgeable Foliar Residue DE Dermal exposure TC = DE (µg/h)/DFR (µg/cm²) Transfer coefficient

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Dermal exposure: example

Task: harvesting Crop: pears

Body parts making contact: upper body Normal clothing: t-shirt and jeans PPE: none

Dermal exposure: example

Example: harvesting pears Head: bare skin Upper arms and torso: t-shirt Lower arms: bare skin Hands: bare skin Upper legs: no contact Lower legs: no contact No contact with crop Bare skin Covered by clothing Covered by PPE Covered by clothing and PPE

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Dermal exposure: example

Example: harvesting pears

Model should take into account: 1)Exposed body parts 2)Clothing and PPE coverage 3)Clothing and PPE penetration factors

Inhalation exposure

IE = AirCt x BR x T (x PFRPE)

• AirCt = concentration in air at re-entry (µg/m³)
• BR = breathing rate (m³/h)
• T = duration of exposure (h/d)
• PFRPE = penetration factor (%)

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Worker mechanistic model BROWSE & stakeholder (worker) consultation

Defaults?

• Literature
• Browse stakeholder survey (WP 4)
• Capex project (CFT/EFSA/PPR/2010/04)

Tasks performed (variable ‘activityText’) Working hours per day (variable ‘hoursDay’) Working hours spent on a single task (variable ‘hours’) Types of clothing and PPE worn Re-entry interval (variable ‘reentry’) Gender

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BROWSE & EFSA survey data

Figure: Ornamentals - working hours per day Figure : Fruiting vegetables - re-entry interval

Type UK Italy Work clothing Breathable work wear 53 Rainwear 3 Bib and brace 1 Long clothes 281 Short clothes 72 Full length trousers 77 Waterproof leggings 1 Long sleeved shirt 77 T-shirt 2 Rubber boots 9 Leather boots 351 25 PPE Type 6 coverall 1 Non-specified rubber gloves 18 Leather gloves 183 43 Latex gloves 3 Nitrile gloves 4

Table : Grapes - clothing and PPE

BROWSE & sustainable use of PPPs

Use new exposure models to develop: training and awareness-training material (WP 6) risk-indicators for worker exposure (WP 6)

application re-entry day 1 day 0 re-entry day 3

Demonstrate the effect of the use

• f PPE on exposure

Show the importance of establishing an appropriate re-entry interval EXAMPLES FOR WORKERS

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Thank you for your attention. Any questions?