New Insights\ninto Occupational Exposure and Risk Assessment\nof Nanopesticides and Conventional Pesticides for Agricultural Workers

Quantifying dermal and inhalation exposure to nanopesticides\nis\nessential for risk assessment and management. This study investigated\nthe potential dermal and inhalation exposures characteristics of applying\nnanopesticides in wheat fields and assessed the associated occupational\nhealth risks for workers exposed to nanopesticides. The mean recoveries\nof the established analytical methods ranged from 70% to 104%, the\nrelative standard deviations ranged from 1.6 to 11.2%, and the limits\nof quantification were 1 μg/kg. The total dermal (and inhalation)\nexposures were as follows: 6153.192 ± 2006.998 μg (0.001\n± 0.001 μg), 3337.832 ± 464.828 μg (<0.001\nμg), 5117.742 ± 1174.357 μg (0.003 ± 0.002 μg),\nand 4351.127 ± 527.835 μg (0.001 μg) when spraying\ndifferent tebuconazole formulations including suspension concentrate,\nnanoemulsion, nanocapsules, and microcapsules, respectively. The exposure\nof spraying nanopesticides was generally not significantly different\nfrom that of conventional pesticide formulations. The thighs exhibited\nthe highest exposure among workers during operation, so protective\nmeasures for the operator’s legs should be strengthened. The\noperator is recommended to wear long clothes and pants and prefer\nback-to-wind moving backward for spraying operations to minimize exposure.\nAll risk quotients were less than 1, indicating that the occupational\nhealth risks associated with spraying tebuconazole nanopesticides\nand conventional formulations under poor, moderate, and better protection\nprecautions remain acceptable. The findings of this study provide\nvaluable insights for the safe use and risk management of nanopesticides.