Hygienic and chemical-analytical support for the safe use of pesticides of the dithiocarbamate group

Introduction. There is continued trend in recent years of increasing the use of new chemicals, most of which are potential sources of risk to human health. The hygienic assessment of their application in the regions of the Russian Federation using various technologies is becoming more and more relevant. 

The aim of the work was to determine the exposure levels of mankoceb, tiram and metiram (pesticides of the dithiacarbamate group), to establish the threshold of the acceptable risk of exposure to pesticides for workers while complying with technical recommendations and safety requirements.

Materials and methods. The determinations of the mancozeb, thiram and metiram were carried out by the gas-liquid chromatography with a flame-photometric detector (GC, FPD); the risk assessment was carried out by exposure (KBsumm) and absorbed dose (KBp) with a complex intake of active ingredients into the body of workers, under the Methodological Instructions № 1.2.3017-12.

Results. There were analyzed more than 350 samples of air of the working zone and washing from workers’ skin. There was shown an absence of active substances mancozeb and metiram in them. The insignificant content of thiram at a level close to the limit of its quantitative determination was found.

Conclusion. The results obtained allow assessing the risk of safe use of drugs based on dithiocarbamates in agriculture, which is the basis for predicting the total chemical exposure to humans, and accurately evaluating the levels of pollutants.

Contributions:

Larkina M.V. — collection and processing of the material, writing the text, editing, concept and design of the study;

Mikheeva E.N. — collection and processing of the material, writing the text, editing;

Fedorova S.G. — concept and design of the study;

Bondareva L.G. — writing the text, editing.

All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.