Decontamination by laundering of textiles soiled with iprodione or pirimicarb

摘要

Two fabrics, 100% cotton and 65/35 polyester/cotton, which are representative of fabrics used in protective clothing worn by pesticide applicators, were used in this study. Two wettable powder pesticides widely used in Alberta greenhouses, the fungicide iprodione (49.4% active ingredient) and the insecticide pirimicarb (50.7% active ingredient), were used at the recommended concentrations for spraying to contaminate the fabrics. Specimens were contaminated using a digital micropipette, then laundered in a Launder-Ometer after one of the following pre-laundering conditions: no pre-treatment, Spray 'n Wash$spcircler$ pre-treatment, or Javex$spcircler$ chlorine bleach pre-treatment. The laundering cycle included washing at 50$spcirc$C, and two rinses at 40$spcirc$C. Laundered and unlaundered specimens were quantitatively analyzed for pesticide residues to the milligram level using HPLC.;There are no significant differences in percent iprodione and pirimicarb residues remaining after laundering between cotton and polyester/cotton specimens. Spray 'n Wash$spcircler$ or bleach pre-treatment caused an effective reduction in iprodione or pirimicarb residue remaining in specimens. Regardless of the pre-treatment, less than 1% iprodione or pirimicarb residue remained on the two types of fabrics after laundering. Due to extra expense, time, and energy conservation concerns, a single wash in warm water (50$spcirc$C) is recommended for removing dilute iprodione or pirimicarb residues from fabrics.;After pirimicarb-contaminated fabrics were exposed to air circulation for one day, about 32% pirimicarb residues "dusted off" into the air. This implies that much of pirimicarb residue remain on the surface of specimens. There are potential risks for greenhouse workers wearing pesticide-soiled clothing since inhalation is a common means of exposure, especially in limited-space greenhouses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).