SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 2000
STP14451S

Pesticide Residue Distribution on Protective Clothing Fabrics as Determined by SEM Micrographs and Their Image Analyses

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Workers using pesticide are required by federal law to wear personal protective equipment. Thus, understanding the interaction between pesticide and the surface of protective clothing fabrics is necessary to facilitate design of fabrics that meet federal regulations and are cost-effective and comfortable to wear. Six protective clothing fabrics, two woven and four nonwoven, were investigated to determine distribution patterns of pesticide residues on the fabrics. We developed procedures to measure and describe image characteristics of these protective clothing fabrics in their natural state and related those to images with pesticide contamination. Pesticide distribution patterns were different depending on the fabric structure and fiber content. Mainly, pesticide residues crystallized on fiber surfaces except for the 100% cotton woven fabric, in which pesticide was believed to be absorbed into the cotton fibers and thus less amounts of pesticide were shown on the surface. The 100% polyethylene fabric was sheet-like, so pesticide residues spread evenly on the fabric surface. Image analysis of fabric structure with or without pesticide contamination revealed that images darkened with the addition of pesticide; however, images with pesticide contamination darkened differently between the six protective clothing fabrics.

Author Information

Taylor, SM
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Kim, CJ
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Lombardi, J
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Lea, SM
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
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Details
Developed by Committee: F23
Pages: 269–281
DOI: 10.1520/STP14451S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5434-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2869-9