Health in relation to occupational exposure to pesticides in the Dutch flower bulb culture : Part 2 : estimation of long-term exposure to pesticides
book
As a part of an epidemiological study with a cross-sectional design aiming at the establishment of possible health effects due to the exposure to pesticides in the flower bulb culture, an occupational hygiene study has been conducted in order to discriminate or to rank participants according to the level of exposure. For the purpose of this study, only exposure due to crop protection and bulb disinfection activities have been considered (exposure has been estimated to be the highest for these applications). In order to obtain a more or less quantitative estimation of exposure, a model was constructed which was applicable to crop protection and bulb disinfection, and which used zineb / maneb as a representative compound; for each technique and method of mixing and loading a "specific exposure level" was calculated, that was used in determining a long-term exposure assessment. It is concluded that the exposure index is a very useful tool in an explorative study to rank populations according to exposure and is helpful in the formulation of hypotheses for further study. The exposure index itself provides the possibility to indicate the sources of low and high exposure, which is important for the implementation of hygienic measures.
Topics
TNO Identifier
162811
ISSN
0921-9218
ISBN
90-5307-266-7
Publisher
Min. SZW, Arbeidsinspectie ; DGA
Collation
55 p. (incl. appendices)
Place of publication
Den Haag