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

26/03/2013 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: 1

26/03/2013 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) 2

26/03/2013 Priority exposure scenarios Exposure scenario = combination of crop and task OUTDOOR INDOOR Harvesting Harvesting fruiting orchard vegetables fruit Harvesting Harvesting grapes ornamentals Exposure routes hand-to-mouth contact 3

26/03/2013 Dermal exposure: basic model DE = DFR x TC x T T TC DFR Duration of Transfer coefficient Dislodgeable Foliar Exposure (h/d) (cm²/h) Residue (µg/cm²) Dermal exposure: basic model DFR DE Dermal exposure Dislodgeable Foliar Residue TC = DE (µg/h)/DFR (µg/cm²) Transfer coefficient 4

26/03/2013 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 No contact with crop Upper arms and torso: t-shirt Bare skin Lower arms: bare skin Covered by clothing Hands: bare skin Covered by PPE Upper legs: no contact Covered by clothing and PPE Lower legs: no contact 5

26/03/2013 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 = AirC t x BR x T (x PF RPE ) • AirC t = concentration in air at re-entry (µg/m³) • BR = breathing rate (m³/h) • T = duration of exposure (h/d) • PF RPE = penetration factor (%) 6

26/03/2013 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 7

26/03/2013 BROWSE & EFSA survey data Table : Grapes - clothing and PPE 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 Figure: Ornamentals - working hours per day Figure : Fruiting vegetables - re-entry interval Type 6 coverall 1 Non-specified rubber gloves 18 Leather gloves 183 43 Latex gloves 3 Nitrile gloves 4 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) EXAMPLES FOR Demonstrate the effect of the use WORKERS of PPE on exposure re-entry re-entry application Show the importance of establishing an appropriate re-entry interval day 0 day 1 day 3 8

26/03/2013 Thank you for your attention. Any questions? 9