Assessment of the Exposure of Workers Applying Herbicide Mixtures (2, 4-D+Roundup, Garlon-3A+Roundup), Toxicity and Fate of These Mixtures in the Environment. Summary Report

摘要

The present study was conducted for four consecutive years to assess the exposureof field workers applying herbicide mixtures (2,4-D + Roundup and Garlon 3A + Roundup) and to determine the toxicity and fate of these herbicides in the environment. Study results indicated that exposure of workers to these mixtures via inhalation was insignificant compared to threshold limit values (TLVs) set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists for the protection of human health. In addition, herbicide concentrations in the urine of these workers were much higher than those found in air samples collected from breathing zones. This was probably due to exposure via ingestion (eating without proper hand washing) and/or exposure via dermal contact. The analysis of samples taken from the environment including sediment and water collected over three years indicated that 2,4-D, Roundup and Garlon-3A did not pose an immediate (acute) risk to aquatic life in water bodies adjacent to herbicide treated areas on the right-of-way.