Contamination in glove materials and the effectiveness of cleanup methods with exposure to granular pesticides

Abstract

<p>The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the effects of various exposure times and pesticide composition on contamination levels and breakthrough times of nitrile, neoprene, and barrier laminate glove materials exposed to two granular pesticides: terbufos (CounterRTM 20CR) and tefluthrin (forceRTM 3G) and (2) to determine the effects of cleanup methods, detergent, and laundering temperature on reduction of pesticide contamination;Three experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, breakthrough time and contamination levels were studied by exposing alpha-cellulose backed glove material specimens to pesticide granules in petri dishes for set time periods up to 24 hours. In experiment 2, contaminated specimens were flushed with a flow of water or washed in a Launder-Ometer, using a set laundering protocol. In experiment 3, the 30-minute exposure was followed by Launder-Ometer washing at two temperatures with and without detergent. Pesticide residues in glove specimens and cellulose pads were extracted with solvent. Residues in water solution were extracted with solid phase extraction. Gas chromatographs were used for residue analysis. Factorial analysis of variance was used to determine statistical differences in the various experimental treatments. Linear regression was used to identify whether there was a linear relationship between contamination and exposure time;The breakthrough time of glove materials to granular terbufos or tefluthrin was more than 24 hours. A positive linear relationship between contamination and exposure time was found. Pesticide composition, glove material, exposure time, cleanup methods, and detergent significantly affected the reduction of contamination. The data show that barrier laminate should be a single-use material, as it is advertised. Reuse of neoprene gloves cannot be recommended based on chemicals and cleanup methods investigated. Cleanup of neoprene was somewhat successful with low toxicity chemicals, depending on exposure time and cleanup method. Cleanup of granular contamination was most successful with nitrile gloves, with about 66% of terbufos and 90% of tefluthrin removed by flush or Launder-Ometer wash. Pesticide also was found in laundering water solutions. The amount of pesticide in water solution varied with pesticide type, glove material, exposure time, cleanup method, and laundering parameter.</p>