US EPA

5328930 

Journal Article 

Potential Exposure Of Commercial Seed-Treating Applicators To The Pesticides Carboxin-Thiram And Lindane 

Grey, WE; Marthre, DE; Rogers, SJ 

1983 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

31 

2 

244-250 

English 

6193827 

A survey of potential exposure to the pesticides carboxin (5234684), thiram (137268), or lindane (58899) among commercial seed treatment applicators was conducted. Ten commercial seed conditioning operations were visited, and dermal and breathing zone samples were analyzed for the pesticides. Eight of the sites used a liquid formulation consisting of carboxin and thiram, and two used a dust formulation of maneb (12427382) and lindane. Chest, arm, and hand pads were used to obtain the dermal samples, and respiratory pads were used to obtain the breathing zone samples. The samples were analyzed by chromatographic methods. None of the chest and arm dermal samples had detectable amounts of carboxin or thiram. Thiram and carboxin were detected on the hands of the applicators at four sites and in the breathing zone at one site. Lindane was not detected on the chest and arm pads. It was detected, however, on the hands and in the breathing zone samples. At the sites where thiram and carboxin were detected on the hands, all of the operators handled treated grain with their bare hands. The authors conclude that, overall, the application of pesticides in commercial seed treating operations is safe. To minimize exposure, the wearing of gloves and respirators when the operator is near the treating operation is recommended.