Relationships Between Clothing and Pesticide Poisoning: Symptoms Among Iowa Farmers
Author: Stone, Janis F.
Date Published: 1988
Clothing worn for farm pesticide application and reports of experience with pesticide poisoning symptoms were studied through a survey using a sample of 1200 private pesticide applicators in Iowa. A 61% return rate was obtained and showed that farm applicators did not vary their clothing according to the toxicity of the chemicals being used. The majority of farm applicators wore jeans, long-sleeved shirts, leather boots, undershorts, socks, and a company/baseball type hat to apply pesticides. Waterproof gloves were worn by 30%. About one-fourth of the farmers said they had never experienced any poisoning symptoms, but 43% had experienced 1 to 4 symptoms and 30% had experienced 5 to 18 symptoms associated with pesticide exposures. Statistically significant relationships were found between the symptom score (number of symptoms experienced) and the toxicity of the insecticide and herbicide that most frequently gets on clothes, the pesticide that gets through clothing to the skin, and the fiber content of the clothes. Symptoms score also was significantly related to the age of the applicator and the the number of weeks spent in application each year. Additional research and educational programs are indicated to minimize pesticide exposure.
Date Published: 1988
Clothing worn for farm pesticide application and reports of experience with pesticide poisoning symptoms were studied through a survey using a sample of 1200 private pesticide applicators in Iowa. A 61% return rate was obtained and showed that farm applicators did not vary their clothing according to the toxicity of the chemicals being used. The majority of farm applicators wore jeans, long-sleeved shirts, leather boots, undershorts, socks, and a company/baseball type hat to apply pesticides. Waterproof gloves were worn by 30%. About one-fourth of the farmers said they had never experienced any poisoning symptoms, but 43% had experienced 1 to 4 symptoms and 30% had experienced 5 to 18 symptoms associated with pesticide exposures. Statistically significant relationships were found between the symptom score (number of symptoms experienced) and the toxicity of the insecticide and herbicide that most frequently gets on clothes, the pesticide that gets through clothing to the skin, and the fiber content of the clothes. Symptoms score also was significantly related to the age of the applicator and the the number of weeks spent in application each year. Additional research and educational programs are indicated to minimize pesticide exposure.
