Operator dermal exposure and individual protection provided by personal protective equipment during application using a backpack sprayer in vineyards

According to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the safety of the operator concerning plant protection products (PPP) must be evaluated. The levels of operator exposure with use of certified personal protective equipment can be estimated using a model or experimental exposure data. However, the existing models have shortcomings, especially the lack of operator exposure data during upward applications using a backpack sprayer. The aim of this study was to monitor the dermal exposure of operators using backpack motorised mist-blower power sprayers for application of fungicides in vineyards. The measured actual dermal exposure levels ranged from 49.3 mg/kg a.s. (active substance) applied (75th percentile) to 89.2 mg/kg a.s. applied (95th percentile), and were lower than those estimated with the European Food Safety Authority model (5–2 %, respectively). The transfer factors provided by the personal protective equipment (coverall and gloves) were low, 1.7 and 2.4 % (75th percentile) and 5.1 and 8.6 % (95th percentile) respectively.