OBJECTIVE: Paraquat is an herbicide widely used worldwide. This study determined the extent of occupational exposure to paraquat among farm workers in Costa Rica and identified determinants of occupational exposure. METHODS: Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected from 119 paraquat handlers and 54 non-handlers from banana, coffee and palm oil farms. Information about herbicide handling operations was also collected. The urinary paraquat levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2 ng/mL. Inhalable dust and airborne paraquat levels were simultaneously measured for a subset of the participants. RESULTS: Urinary paraquat measurements were non-detectable or very low when workers did not handle paraquat. For handlers, 83.3, 47.1 and 63.9% of the samples were below the LOQ on before-, during- and after-paraquat spray days, respectively. The arithmetic mean (+/-SD) of urinary paraquat level on days when workers handled paraquat was 6.3 (+/-10.45) microg/24 h. Paraquat exposures among handlers on spray day were significantly associated with the type of crop. CONCLUSION: Non-handlers had negligible urinary paraquat, while detectable paraquat exposures were observed among handlers on spray day. Urinary paraquat levels were different by crop.
OBJECTIVE:Paraquat is an herbicide widely used worldwide. This study determined the extent of occupational exposure to paraquat among farm workers in Costa Rica and identified determinants of occupational exposure. METHODS: Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected from 119 paraquat handlers and 54 non-handlers from banana, coffee and palm oil farms. Information about herbicide handling operations was also collected. The urinary paraquat levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2 ng/mL. Inhalable dust and airborne paraquat levels were simultaneously measured for a subset of the participants. RESULTS: Urinary paraquat measurements were non-detectable or very low when workers did not handle paraquat. For handlers, 83.3, 47.1 and 63.9% of the samples were below the LOQ on before-, during- and after-paraquat spray days, respectively. The arithmetic mean (+/-SD) of urinary paraquat level on days when workers handled paraquat was 6.3 (+/-10.45) microg/24 h. Paraquat exposures among handlers on spray day were significantly associated with the type of crop. CONCLUSION: Non-handlers had negligible urinary paraquat, while detectable paraquat exposures were observed among handlers on spray day. Urinary paraquat levels were different by crop.
Authors: Tye E Arbuckle; Rick Burnett; Donald Cole; Kay Teschke; Mustafa Dosemeci; Christina Bancej; Jun Zhang Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2002-04-20 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: J T Knuiman; J G Hautvast; L van der Heyden; J Geboers; J V Joossens; H Tornqvist; B Isaksson; P Pietinen; J Tuomilehto; L Poulsen Journal: Hum Nutr Clin Nutr Date: 1986-05
Authors: Timothy Anderson; Alyssa K Merrill; Matthew L Eckard; Elena Marvin; Katherine Conrad; Kevin Welle; Günter Oberdörster; Marissa Sobolewski; Deborah A Cory-Slechta Journal: Toxicol Sci Date: 2021-02-26 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Pajaree Konthonbut; Pornpimol Kongtip; Noppanun Nankongnab; Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul; Witaya Yoosook; Susan Woskie Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-06-03 Impact factor: 3.390