Pesticide exposure assessment

Unintended, accidental, or unavoidable human exposures may result from pesticide use. Risk Characterization provides registrants, regulators, and the public a means to assess relative risks of pesticide use. Exposure Assessments are less standardized. Potential Dermal Exposure (PDE; mg/kg) is the amount of contact with the potential for dermal absorption (DA). Mixer/loader/applicator data developed using passive dosimetry and skin washing forms a Tier 1 Generic Database. If disqualifying estimates are obtained a more accurate estimate (Tier 2) may be developed from measurements of DA, clothing protection, and PDE under use conditions. Direct estimates of absorbed dose (Tier 3) require metabolic and kinetic data and biological monitoring. Harvesters and other persons who contact treated surfaces need reentry intervals to minimize acute and chronic exposure. Work tasks, dislodgeable foliar residue, and duration of exposure are the foundations for exposure-based, generic estimates of harvester PDE.