Risk Assessment of Tunisian Consumers and Farm Workers Exposed to Residues after Pesticide Application in Chili Peppers and Tomatoes
In Tunisia, to prevent and control pests and diseases during cultivation under greenhouses, chili pepper and tomato require the use of a wide range of pesticides potentially toxic and thus presenting a possible risk for farm operators, workers or consumers. A study has been carried out in the Sahel...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institution of the Agricultural Research and Higher Education
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.tjpp.tn/SiteWeb/CurrentIssue/TJPP13_1/10Bruno.pdf
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| Summary: | In Tunisia, to prevent and control pests and diseases during cultivation under greenhouses, chili pepper
and tomato require the use of a wide range of pesticides potentially toxic and thus presenting a possible
risk for farm operators, workers or consumers. A study has been carried out in the Sahel region of
Tunisia to assess the risk for farm operators and workers exposed, by contact during harvest tasks, to
possible pesticide residues remaining in tomato and chili pepper crops, and for the Tunisian consumers
(adults and children) after intake. A questionnaire was addressed to a group of 73 market gardeners to
better understand the local professional practices and to determine the main route of exposure to
pesticide. Twenty samples of cotton gloves (2 pairs / sample) were distributed to 20 volunteers who
worn them for two consecutive half-days during the harvest of chili peppers or tomatoes before
analysis of the dislodgeable pesticide residues which could be transferred from crops to hands. Using
models, predictive exposures values were calculated for consumers and farm workers. The highest
exposure of consumers was observed for chlorpyrifos residues on tomatoes (with 82% and 312% of the
Acute Reference Dose (ARfD), for adults and children respectively). The systemic exposure (SE) of
farm workers was estimated for the median, the 90th percentile and the maximum concentration. At the
highest observed concentrations, 15 pesticide residues (active ingredients and metabolites) used in
pepper greenhouses, and 9 in tomato crops, exceeded the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level
(AOEL). Exposure appeared to be particularly critical for chlorothalonil sprayed in chili pepper
greenhouses with SEMAX values 113 times higher than the AOEL (11285%). Long task duration (8
h/day) after re-entry in greenhouse, limited access to personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of
hygiene and bad habits (eating, drinking, or smoking at work) have also been observed and discussed
as risk factors. |
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| ISSN: | 1737-5436 2490-4368 |