SEDL / STP / STP1133-EB / STP19181S

The Evaluation of Protective Clothing as Chemical Barriers for Mixers/Loaders and Applicators in Agricultural Field Tests Designed to Meet FIFRA GLP Testing Standards

Oakland, BG
Professor and Research AssistantAssociate ProfessorManager, University of North Carolina at GreensboroAgricultural Engineering, Clemson UniversityEnvironment and Contract Studies, CXBA-GEIGY Corporation, GreensboroClemsonGreensboro, NCSCNC

Schabacker, DJ
Professor and Research AssistantAssociate ProfessorManager, University of North Carolina at GreensboroAgricultural Engineering, Clemson UniversityEnvironment and Contract Studies, CXBA-GEIGY Corporation, GreensboroClemsonGreensboro, NCSCNC

Dodd, RB
Professor and Research AssistantAssociate ProfessorManager, University of North Carolina at GreensboroAgricultural Engineering, Clemson UniversityEnvironment and Contract Studies, CXBA-GEIGY Corporation, GreensboroClemsonGreensboro, NCSCNC

Ross, RH
Professor and Research AssistantAssociate ProfessorManager, University of North Carolina at GreensboroAgricultural Engineering, Clemson UniversityEnvironment and Contract Studies, CXBA-GEIGY Corporation, GreensboroClemsonGreensboro, NCSCNC

Pages: 15    Published: Jan 1992

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Abstract

A pilot test was conducted, with all data generated according to FIFRA GLP standards, to monitor and quantify the barrier efficiency of two disposable test suits for mixers/loaders and applicators in hot, humid weather. The study was performed using AAtrex Nine-O as an example of an herbicide applied to row crops. The two test suits were SMS (spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded polypropylene fabric) with a repellant finish and Sontara FC (wood pulp/polyester/spunlaced fabric) with a fluorocarbon finish; a 100% cotton chambray suit with a fluorocarbon finish was used as a control. The study design included three workers wearing each suit type for a work cycle of three tank applications. The cycle included mixing/loading the formulation and subsequent ground boom spray application of the formulation. To determine the amount of atrazine residue, twelve outside and twelve inside alpha-cellulose patches were attached to the suits and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography. The average barrier efficiency against atrazine penetration, formulated as AAtrex Nine-O, was 97% for the SMS suit s compared to 80% for the Sontara FC test and the small cotton chambray control suit.