Development of a new test cell to measure cumulative permeation of water-insoluble pesticides with low vapor pressure through protective clothing and glove materials.

A collaborative approach, involving resources and expertise from several countries, was used to develop a test cell to measure cumulative permeation by a solid-state collection technique. The new technique was developed to measure the permeation of pesticide active ingredients and other chemicals with low vapor pressure that would otherwise be difficult to test via standard techniques. The development process is described and the results from the final chosen test method are reported. Inter-laboratory studies were conducted to further refine the new method and determine repeatability and reliability. The revised test method has been approved as a new ISO/EN standard to measure permeation of chemicals with low vapor pressure and/or solubility in water.

Loss of effectiveness of protective clothing after its use in pesticide sprays and its multiple washes.

Protective clothing is used as a barrier against pesticides when working with agricultural sprays. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pesticide penetration, retention, and repellence of the material and seams of a whole-body protective garment used by applicators of pesticides. The efficiency of the material and seams of the whole-body garment were determined for its classification as proposed by ISO 27065 (ISO, 2011). The evaluation method used was the pipette test of ISO 22608. The efficiency of the material and seams of the garment (100% cotton) were tested by contamination with formulations of Roundup Original® SL; Nufos EC® and Supera SC®. The presence of the seams in the protective clothing reduced its efficiency in the control of dermal exposure, except when protecting against the Supera SC® formulation. The number of washes and uses affected the efficiency of the material and seams of the garment. The type of formulation interfered significantly in the penetration of pesticides into the material and seams. Thus, the laboratory efficiency assessment of protective clothing is necessary to determine what types of formulations and use conditions are appropriate for workers.

Procedures to evaluate the efficiency of protective clothing worn by operators applying pesticide.

The evaluation of the efficiency of whole-body protective clothing against pesticides has already been carried out through field tests and procedures defined by international standards, but there is a need to determine the useful life of these garments to ensure worker safety. The aim of this article is to compare the procedures for evaluating efficiency of two whole-body protective garments, both new and previously used by applicators of herbicides, using a laboratory test with a mannequin and in the field with the operator. The evaluation of the efficiency of protective clothing used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, leading to a proposal for classification according to efficiency, and determination of the useful life of protective clothing for use against pesticides, based on a quantitative assessment. The procedures used were in accordance with the standards of the modified American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F 1359:2007 and International Organization for Standardization 17491-4. The protocol used in the field was World Health Organization Vector Biology and Control (VBC)/82.1. Clothing tested was personal water repellent and pesticide protective. Two varieties of fabric were tested: Beige (100% cotton) and Camouflaged (31% polyester and 69% cotton). The efficiency in exposure control of the personal protective clothing was measured before use and after 5, 10, 20, and 30 uses and washes under field conditions. Personal protective clothing was worn by workers in the field during the application of the herbicide glyphosate on weed species in mature sugar cane plantations using a knapsack sprayer. The modified ASTM 1359:2007 procedure was chosen as the most appropriate due to its greater repeatability (lower coefficient of variation). This procedure provides quantitative evaluation needed to determine the efficiency and useful life of individual protective clothing, not just at specific points of failure, but according to dermal protection as a whole. The qualitative assessment, which is suitable for verification of garment design and stitching flaws, does not aid in determining useful life, but does complement the quantitative evaluation. The proposed classification is appropriate and accurate for determining the useful life of personal protective clothing against pesticide materials relative to number of uses and washes after each use. For example, the Beige garment had a useful life of 30 uses and washes, while the Camouflaged garment had a useful life of 5 uses and washes. The quantitative evaluation aids in determining the efficiency and useful life of individual protective clothing according to dermal protection as a whole, not just at specific points of failure.

Histopathological biomarkers in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) infected with aeromonas hydrophila and treated with antibiotics.

Pharmacochemicals usage in fish farming disease treatment can cause morphological and functional changes in absorption capacity, metabolism and excretion organs. The aim of this research was to evaluate the histopathological biomarkers in the gills, liver, kidney and skin of pacu (P. mesopotamicus), which have been infected with A. hydrophila and treated with oxytetracycline (OTC) and florfenicol (FFC). Fish were exposed to 2.4×10(7) mL(-1) of A. hydrophila bacteria experimental infection and after 24h exposed to FFC treatment for ten days and OTC for seven days. OTC was not effective in the A. hydrophila control in pacu in up to 170.0 mg kg(-1) concentration. Nevertheless, FFC was 100% effective with 10.0 mg kg(-1) concentration. After the treatment, skin, gills, liver and kidney samples were collected and processed for histopathological analysis. A. hydrophila caused lamellar fusion, sub epithelial edema, mucous hypertrophy and hyperplasia, lining, pillar and chloride cells. Hepatocytes hypertrophy was observed on liver, as a result of the antibiotics metabolism and bacteria cell wall. The histopathological biomarkers show the effects of the presence of the A. hydrophila. The use of the antibiotic florfenicol decreases the bacterial action effectiveness on tissues evaluated. Thus, the histopathological biomarkers show the A. hydrophila effect and the antibiotics treatment. The skin and liver are exposure biomarkers for both.

Acute toxicity and environmental risk of diflubenzuron to Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata and Lemna minor in the absence and presence of sediment

Parasitoses in fi sh farming are treated by the application of pesticides formulations commonly used in agriculture or veterinary medicine. For the control of ectoparasites, that cause economic losses to the fi sh production Difl ubenzuron is utilized by direct application into water at a 2 mg.L-1 concentration. However, this practice can intoxicate nontarget species. This research aimed at determining the acute toxicity of difl ubenzuron to Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata and Lemna minor; evaluating its environmental risk and defi ning the role of the sediment in the bioavailability of this insecticide in the water. Results of the study implicate difl ubenzuron as being extremely toxic to D. magna. However, no signifi cant toxicity was observed in P. reticulata and L. minor. Bioavailability of this insecticide was signifi cantly reduced by the presence of sediment in the water.

Metais em águas, sedimentos e peixes coletados no estuário de São Vicen-te-SP, Brasil / Metals in water, sediments and fish collected in São Vicente-SP estuary, Brazil / Metales en el agua, los sedimentos y los pescados recogidos en elestuario São Vicente-Sp, el Brasil

O estuário de São Vicente, situado na Baixada Santista, vem apresentando níveis crescentes de poluição, causados pelo avanço da urbanização e instalação de fontes poluidoras. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a distribuição de alguns metais (ferro, cromo, níquel, zinco, manganês e cobre) em diferentes compartimentos ambientais que compõem o ecossistema aquático dos estuários dos rios Branco e Mariana, localizados no estuário de São Vicente. Foram analisadas amostras de águas, sedimentos e tecidos branquiais e hepáticos de paratis (Mugil curema) coletados nesses dois rios. A determinação dos metais nasamostras foi realizada em Espectrofotômetro de Absorção Atômica GBC®. As concentrações médias de cromo, níquel e zinco nas águas de ambos os rios estiveramacima dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira para águas salobras, no entanto os níveis de metais foram mais elevados nas amostras do Rio Mariana. Nos sedimentos, as maiores concentrações ocorreram nas amostras provenientes do Rio Branco, que inclusive ultrapassaram os valores orientadores propostos pela legislação internacional: Cu, Ni e Zn ultrapassam os limiares de efeito tóxico - TEL, enquanto para o Cr, o nível de efeito provável – PEL, foi ultrapassado. Nos tecidos dos peixes, Fe, Cr e Ni apresentaram maior acúmulo nas brânquias, enquanto Zn, Mn e Cu ocorreram em maiores concentrações nos fígados, o queestá relacionado com os mecanismos de depuração implicados com os diferentes elementos. Na maioria dos casos, os peixes dos dois rios apresentaram níveissimilares de metais em seus tecidos, porém os animais do Rio Branco tiveram maiores concentrações de Fe e Cu, enquanto aqueles do Rio Mariana apresentaram maiores teores de Mn nas brânquias. Não foi possível estabelecer relações entre a contaminação ambiental e os metais nos tecidos dos peixes, porém os valores encontrados nas amostras de água, sedimentos e tecidos são maiores do que os descritos pela literatura e mostram uma situação...

São Vicente estuary, located in Baixada Santista, presents increasing levels of pollution caused by urbanization and the installation of polluting sources.The objective of this work was to evaluate the distribution of some metals (iron, chromium, nickel, zinc, manganese and copper) in the different environmental compartments that compose the aquatic ecosystem of Branco and Mariana Rivers estuaries, located in São Vicente Estuary. We analyzed samples of water andbranchial and hepatic sediments and tissues of white mullet (Mugil curema) in the two rivers. The determination of metals in samples was carried through in Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer GBC®. The average concentrations of chromium, nickel and zinc in waters of both rivers were above the limits established by the Brazilian legislation for brackish waters, but metal levels were higher in samples from Mariana River. In the sediments, the highest concentrations were insamples from Rio Branco, which also exceeded international legislation guiding values: Cu, Ni and Zn exceed the thresholds of toxic effect - TEL while for Cr the level of probable effect - PEL was exceeded. In fish tissues, Fe, Cr and Ni had presented a higher accumulation in the gills, while Zn, Mn and Cu had occurred in higher concentrations in liver tissues, and this relates to mechanisms of purification relative to the different elements. In most cases, the fish of the two riverspresented similar metal levels in their tissues, but the animals from Rio Branco had higher concentrations of Fe and Cu, while those of Mariana River presented higher quantities of Mn in the gills. It was not possible to establish relationships between environmental contamination and metals in fish tissues, but values found in samples of water, sediments and tissues are higher the ones described in the literature and show a worrying situation that requires the identificationand control of polluting sources.

El estuario de São Vicente, situado en Baixada Santista, presenta crecientes niveles de contaminación causados por la urbanización y la instalaciónde fuentes de contaminación. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la distribución de algunos metales (hierro, cromo, níquel, zinc, manganeso y cobre) en los diversos compartimientos ambientales que componen el ecosistema acuático de los estuarios de los ríos Branco y Mariana, situados en el estuario de São Vicente. Analizámos muestras de agua y de sedimentos branchiales y hepáticos y tejidos del salmonete blanco (Mugil curema) en los dos ríos. La determinación de metalesen muestras fue ejecutada por Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer GBC®. Las concentraciones medias de cromo, de níquel y de zinc en las aguas de ambos ríos estaban arriba los límites establecidos por la legislación brasileña para las aguas salobres, pero los niveles de metal eran más altos en muestras del río Mariana.En los sedimentos, las concentraciones más altas estaban en muestras de Río Branco, que también excedió valores indicativos de la legislación internacional: Cu,Ni y Zn exceden los umbrales de efecto tóxico - TEL, mientras que para el Cr el nivel de efecto probable - PEL fue excedido. En tejidos de los pescados, el Fe, Cr y Ni han presentado una acumulación más alta en las papadas, mientras que el Zn, el manganeso y el Cu han ocurrido en concentraciones más altas en tejidos del hígado, y eso se relaciona con los mecanismos de purificación concernientes a los diversos elementos. En la mayoría de los casos, los pescados de los dos ríos presentaron niveles de metal similares en sus tejidos, pero los animales de Río Branco tenían concentraciones más altas de Fe y de Cu, mientras que los del río Mariana presentaron cantidades más altas de manganeso en las papadas. No se ha podido establecer relaciones entre la contaminación del medio ambiente y losmetales en tejidos de los pescados, pero los valores encontrados...

Isolamento de bactérias do gênero Salmonella sp. nas águas residuárias de abatedouros avícolas e suinícolas / Isolation of bacteria of the genus Salmonella sp. sewage in poultry and aviculture slaughterhouses

Neste trabalho objetivou-se avaliar os riscos oferecidos pelos efluentes de sete abatedouros suinícolas e sete avícolas na degradação do ambiente e na disseminação de microrganismos patogênicos, nos períodos de chuva e estiagem. Foram analisadas amostras de água de abastecimento, em diferentes pontos do fluxograma de abate, dos afluentes e efluentes dos sistemas de tratamento e de três pontos do corpo receptor ( na emissão, 100 m à montante e 100 m à jusante). Determinaram-se as temperaturas, o cloro residual livre (CRL), juntamente com a identificação e sorotipificação de salmonelas. Foi observado que a escaldadura foi o ponto de abate mais significativo (p< 0.05), em termos de temperatura. As temperaturas registradas nos efluentes e nos pontos amostrados no corpo receptor estavam dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pelas legislações estadual e federal. As águas de abastecimento, em relação ao CRL, estavam acima dos padrões do Ministério da Saúde e dentro dos padrões do Regulamento da Inspeção Industrial e Sanitária de Produtos de Origem Animal. A Salmonella isolada nas águas de escaldadura, depenagem, pré-resfriamento e efluente nos abatedouros avícolas, e nas águas da lavagem do ambiente e no afluente, nos abatedouros suinícolas, evidenciou estes pontos como fontes de disseminação deste microrganismo.

Segurança na aplicação de agrotóxicos ­em cultura de batata em regiões montahosas / Safety of pesticides application on potato crop on sloped areas

O presente estudo objetivou a quantificação das exposições na aplicação de agrotóxicos com o pulverizador convencional usado pelo produtor em cultura de batata em regiões montanhosas; a determinação das regiões do corpo dos trabalhadores mais expostas; a avaliação da eficiência de medidas de proteção individuais e coletivas; e a classificação das condições de trabalho quanto à segurança das recomendações de agrotóxicos registrados para o controle das principais pragas e doenças dessa cultura. Concluiu-se que a maior exposição ocupacional ocorreu na via dérmica; o trabalhador sofreu maior exposição com a utilização do pulverizador do produtor; o Knapik foi a medida de segurança coletiva mais eficiente no controle da exposição do trabalhador e a individual mais eficiente foi a Roupa Unesp; os membros inferiores foram as regiões do corpo mais exposta às caldas; sem a utilização das medidas de segurança, as 54 recomendações de agrotóxico para a essa cultura foram classificadas como inseguras para o trabalhador; todavia, com a utilização do protótipo de barra manual, apenas duas tornaram-se seguras; com o pulverizador Knapik, somente três; nove com o AZR; e dezesseis com a Roupa Unesp.

The aim of the present study was a) to quantify exposure in the application of pesticides on potatoes with a conventional sprayer on sloped areas, b) to determine the areas of the body where workers are most exposed, c) to assess the effectiveness of protective measures both individual and collective, and d) to classify the working conditions with regard to work safety in the recommended use of pesticides registered for this crop. The following results were obtained. The greatest occupational exposure occurred via the dermal route. The worker was found to have the greatest exposure when using a crop sprayer. The Knapik was the most efficient collective safety measure in controlling exposure of the worker, while the Roupa Unesp was the most efficient individual safety measure. The worker's legs were the area of the body most exposed to the spray. Without utilizing any of the safety measures evaluated, all of the 54 recommendations for the application of pesticides on this crops would be classified as unsafe for the worker. However, when the sprayer prototype with manual boom was used, only two turned out to be safe, whereas only three with the Knapik sprayer, nine with the AZR, and 16 with the Roupa Unesp.

Segurança no trabalho com agrotóxicos em citros: aplicação com o turbopulverizador e preparo de calda em tanque de 2.000 L / Work safety in the use of pesticides in citrus: application with an air-assisted sprayer and preparation of spray in a 2.000-L tank

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram quantificar as exposições dérmicas e respiratórias proporcionadas pelas condições de trabalho na aplicação de agrotóxicos em cultura de citros com o turbopulverizador e no preparo de caldas em um tanque de 2.000 L de capacidade; avaliar a eficiência de medidas de proteção individual; determinar as regiões mais expostas do corpo dos trabalhadores e coletiva para esses trabalhadores; e classificar as condições de trabalho, sem e com as medidas de proteção testadas, quanto à segurança ocupacional das recomendações de agrotóxicos registrados para o controle das principais pragas e doenças dessa cultura. Verificou-se, que para o tratorista e para o aplicador, pulverizando agrotóxicos em citros com o turbopulverizador, as medidas de proteção mais eficientes foram o conjunto AZR e a cabina Real. O conjunto AZR foi eficiente no controle da exposição do preparador de caldas, pois foi suficiente para tornar condições de trabalho inseguras em seguras. A região mais exposta do corpo, nas duas condições de trabalho estudadas, foram as mãos dos trabalhadores.

The objectives of this study were: a) to quantify dermal and respiratory exposure resulting from work conditions in the application of pesticides on citrus crops using a air-assisted sprayer and by preparing the spray in a tank with a capacity of2.000 L; b) to evaluate the measures of individual protection for these workers; c) to determine the areas of the worker's body most exposed; and d) to classify the work conditions with and without the protective measures tested, with regard to the occupational safety of the recommendations for the pesticides used in controlling the main pests and diseases of this crop. It was shown that for the tractor driver and sprayer operator applyng pesticides on citrus trees, the most efficient protective measures were the AZR ensemble and the Real cabin. The AZR ensemble was effective in controlling exposure of the spray preparer, because it was sufficient to turn work conditions from unsafe to safe. The area of the body most exposed under the two work conditions studied was the hands of the workers.

Segurança no trabalho de aplicação de agrotóxicos com o pulverizador de pistolas em citros / Work safety in pesticide spraying of citrus fruits using hand gun sprayers

O presente estudo objetivou quantificar as exposições dérmicas e respiratórias proporcionadas pelas condições de trabalho de aplicação de agrotóxicos em cultura de citros com o pulverizador de pistolas; avaliar a eficiência de medidas de proteção individual e coletiva para esses trabalhadores; determinar as regiões mais expostas do corpo dos trabalhadores; e classificar as condições de trabalho, sem e com as medidas de proteção testadas, quanto à segurança ocupacional das recomendações de agrotóxicos registrados para o controle das principais pragas e doenças dessa cultura. Verifica-se que, para o tratorista, pulverizando com o pulverizador de pistolas, a medida de proteção mais eficiente foi o conjunto AZR e, para o aplicador, os dois conjuntos avaliados foram eficientes. Para o tratorista, as regiões mais expostas do corpo foram as coxas + pernas - frente, os pés e as mãos; e, para o aplicador foram, os pés e as mãos.

The purpose of this study envisaged the quantification of skin and respiratory exposures occasioned by work conditions during pesticide spraying of citrus fruits using hand gun sprayers; the evaluation of the efficiency of individual and group protection measures for the workers; the determination of workers' most exposed body regions; and the classification of work conditions, with and without the tested work-safety protection measures as recommended for the registered pesticides used to control the main pests and diseases that attack these types of trees and fruits. The AZR protection equipment proved to be the most efficient for the tractor driver, when spraying using pistol sprayers. The two sets of individual protection equipment that were checked also proved to be efficient. The most exposed regions of the tractor driver's body were the thighs, the front of the legs, the feet and hands. The most exposed regions of the individual sprayer working on foot were the hands and feet.