PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR PROFESSIONAL PESTICIDE USERS

Abstract:
The growing concern for health and safety of pesticide workers in the United States has generated standards and regulations as well as standard practices of worker hygiene and a recent increase in research in personal protective equipment (PPE). Personal protective equipment includes protective clothing and such gear as face masks, respirators, gloves, boots and other items, and the current U.S.A. federal regulations and standards are reviewed. All clothing is protective to some extent, yet protective clothing can act as an occlusive dressing, holding chemicals in contact with the skin, an organ of transpiration. The greatest health risk from pesticides comes through primary exposure, yet secondary exposure can happen through wearing contaminated clothing or through decontamination. By making persons exposed to pesticides more aware of dangers, how to avoid contamination, and how to deal with contaminated PPE, the potential for adverse effects may be reduced. Recent work in the area is summarized; however. given the 1,500 active ingredients, 35,000 formulations, and the hundreds of activities, sites and exposure patterns, more work of a predictive nature on successful decontamination refurbishment of personal protective equipment is needed.