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Exposure of pesticide applicators to arsenic acid

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Abstract

The arsenic content of long-sleeved coveralls worn by ground rig drivers, pilots, and ground crew members averaged 430, 260 and 348 mg of arsenic, respectively after being worn during the normal pursuit of the application of arsenic acid as a desiccant on cotton in Texas and Oklahoma. The average arsenic content in breathing zone air for ground rig applicators was 7.8 μg As/m3 during the application. The applicators coveralls received only about 0.1 to 50 ml of the applied spray. The results will aid in the determination of preliminary hazards of exposure to arsenic acid spray when the expected absorption percentage of arsenic from clothing and bare skin is determined at some future date.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX

    W. Harry Culver (Associate Professor, Head, Regional Technical Supervisor)

  2. Agricultural Analytical Services Department, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX

    W. Harry Culver (Associate Professor, Head, Regional Technical Supervisor)

  3. Agricultural Chemicals Division, Pennwalt Corporation, USA

    W. Harry Culver (Associate Professor, Head, Regional Technical Supervisor)

Authors
  1. Charles S. Miller
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  2. W. L. Hoover
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  3. W. Harry Culver
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Miller, C.S., Hoover, W.L. & Culver, W.H. Exposure of pesticide applicators to arsenic acid. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 9, 281–288 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01057408

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01057408

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