Industrial Hygiene Report of Mechanical Cotton Picker Operator Exposure to DEF at Harold O'Banion Farming, P.O. Box 277, Dos Palos, California

摘要

Mechanical cotton picker operator exposures to s,s,s-tributylphosphorotrithioate (78488) (DEF), were characterized by an industrial hygiene survey of the mechanical cotton picking operations conducted by O'Banion Farming at the O'Banion farm (SIC-0722) in Dos Palos, in California, on November 16 to 17, 1978. Respiratory samples were collected using an impinger pump. Dermal samples were collected on 4 inch square gauze pads attached to the operators' clothing. All samples were analyzed by chromatography. Respiratory samples contained 24.1 to 200.6 nanograms of DEF per cubic meter, and the single dermal sample contained 2.79 milligrams for an 8 hour period. Sampling was conducted after heavy rains when the weather was overcast and humid. The author notes that no exposure standard exists for DEF. Further sampling is recommended during more typical weather conditions conducive to greater exposure concentrations.