Abstract

BULACIO, Liliana G.; GIULIANI, Susana L.; PANELO, Marta S.  and  GIOLITO, Irma. Safety in the application of phitosanitary products in horticultural and fruit crops. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2007, vol.15, n.1, pp.1-7. ISSN 1851-3743.

In intensive production systems, the improper use of phytosanitary products may affect the operator's health. The objective of this work was to determine the areas the agrochemical deposits on the worker's body, at the time of applying foliar treatments in horticultural crops of several heights and in fruit trees. It was performed in lots of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var cicla L.), artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), string bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and in orange (Citrus sp.) groves. In each lot, 4 foliar applications of phitosanitary products were simulated using a backpack sprinkler and replacing the products for a phenophthaleine solution (0.5 g/l). In each application, 100 m among the crop lines were covered and before each of them, 10x 10 cm white cotton cloth patches were laid on different areas of the worker's body. At the laboratory, the residue of phenophthaleine was recovered from each patch by means of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide and it was then valued in a spectrophotometer at 540 nm. Residues detected in the front and the back of the worker's body were, respectively, in Swiss chard 1095,6 μg/cm² and 91,02 μg/cm², in artichoke 787,00 μg/cm² and 404,00 μg/cm², in string bean 197,50 μg/cm² and 68,35 μg/cm², in orange trees 481,70 μg/cm² and 44,20 μg/cm². The exposition of the whole body of the worker was demonstrated by performing treatments in conditions similar to those of these trials, validating the need of having protection elements that completely cover it.

Keywords : Beta vulgaris var. cicla; Cynara scolymus L.; Phaseolus vulgaris L.; Citrus sp; Agrochemicals; Risk; Contamination; Safety.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )