Comparison of operator exposure for five different greenhouse spraying applications

The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) and CLO-DVL joined forces in a project to stimulate a safe use of pesticides in Southern European countries. A quantitative method to evaluate spray deposits, using mineral chelates, is used to compare operator exposure from several spraying techniques. The operator exposure measurements were of a comparative nature. Five application methods were investigated i.e. a standard spray gun with an operator walking forwards, a spray lance with an operator walking forwards and backwards, a trolley and a vehicle both with vertical spray booms. The exposure was measured at 15 different places of the body on a coverall with patches and on gloves. Walking backwards reduced the exposure by a factor of 7. The exposures on the collectors with the trolley and the vehicle, were factors of 25 and 100 lower respectively than with the standard spray gun. Besides a very large difference in exposure between the five techniques, there was also a large difference in exposure between the various parts of the body. This data is important in consideration of operator safety and for the parts of the body that need to be protected most.