Abstract
The effect of wearing coveralls on the heat stress of ten professional airblast applicators of ethion to Florida citrus were studied. During the period June 21, 1988 to August 9, 1988, applicators wore protective clothing of the same design, but made of seven different fabrics. Heat stress was evaluated by measuring the mean skin temperature, oral temperature, and heart rate of pesticide applicators. Subjects also provided subjective evaluations. Seven environmental variables were also monitored. Although each fabric was replicated an average of 17 times for thermal comfort and an average of 23 times for penetration, statistical tests for differences among fabrics were usually not significant at the p<0.05 level. Observed differences among suits were statistically significant at p=0.27 for the heat stress experiment, and extended over the range p=0.003–0.500 for the penetration experiment.
Lighter weight, untreated fabrics marginally ameliorated heat stress under severe environmental conditions, but they allowed more pesticide penetration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACGIH (1991–1992) Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices for 1991–1992 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 6500 Glenway Ave., Bldg. D-7, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211-4438, Document ISBN: 0-936712-78-3, pp 91–98
Avellini BA, Kamon E, Krajewski JT (1986) Physiological responses of physically fit men and women to acclimation to humid heat. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exercise Physiol 49:254–261
Berenson PJ, Robertson WG (1973) Temperature. Chapter 3. In: Parker JF Jr, West VR (eds) Bioastronautics data book, Second Edition, NASA SP-3006. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, pp 65–148
Brunk HD (1965) An introduction to mathematical statistics, 2nd ed. Blaisdell Publ Co, NY, pp 345–371
Burton AC, Edholm OG (1969) The thermal insulation of the tissues of the body. Chapter 5. In: Bayliss LE, Feldberg W, Hodgkin AL (eds) Man in a cold environment. Physiological and pathological effects of exposure to low temperatures. Monographs of the Physiological Society Number 2. Edward Arnold Ltd, London, pp 73–89
DeJonge J, Easter E (1989) Laboratory evaluation of pesticide spray penetration and thermal comfort of protective apparel for pesticide application. Final Report U.S. EPA Cooperative Agreement 812486-01-0 Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH 45268
--, -- (1990) Pesticide spray penetration and thermal comfort of protective apparel for pesticide applicators. EPA Project Summary, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, EPA/600/S2-90/023 Aug 1990, pp 1–8
Easter EP, Nigg HN (1992) Pesticide protective clothing. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol, 129:1–16
Gisolfi C, Robinson S (1969) Relations between physical training, acclimatization, and heat tolerance. J Appl Physiol 26:530–534
Goldman RF (1985) Heat stress in industrial protective encapsulating garments. In: Levine SP and Martin WF (eds) An Ann Arbor science book. Butterworth Publishers, Boston, MA, pp 215–266
Gonzalez RR (1987) Biophysical and physiological integration of proper clothing for exercise. In: Pandolf KB (ed) Exercise and sport sciences reviews. Volume 5. MacMillan Publishing Company, NY
Martin HV, Callaway S (1974) An evaluation of the heat stress of a protective face mask. Ergonomics 17:221–231
Nielsen B (1992) Heat stress causes fatigue! Exercise performance during acute and repeated exposures to hot, dry environments. In: Marconnet P, Komi PV, Saltin B, Sejersted OM (eds) Muscle fatigue mechanisms in exercise and training. Med Sport Sci Basel, Karger, vol 34, pp 207–217
Nigg HN, Stamper JH, Queen RM (1986) Dicofol exposure to Florida citrus applicators: Effects of protective clothing. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 15:121–134
Piwonka RW, Robinson S, Gay VL, Manalis RS (1967) Preacclimatization of men to heat by training. J Appl Physiol 20:379–383
Rohles FH, Millikin GM, Kristic I (1979) The effect of cyclical temperature fluctuations on thermal comfort. Report No. 79–01 Kansas State Univ Inst Environ Res, Manhattan, KS
Staiff DC, Davis JE, Stevens ER (1982) Evaluation of various clothing materials for protection and worker acceptability during application of pesticides. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 11:391–398
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nigg, H.N., Stamper, J.H., Easter, E. et al. Field evaluation of coverall fabrics: Heat stress and pesticide penetration. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 23, 281–288 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216234
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216234