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Farm family exposure to glyphosate

Farm family exposure to glyphosate. Monsanto U Mn School of Public Health Rollins School of Public Health Exponent Corp. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Glyphosate characteristics. Low acute oral LD 50 (> 5,000 mg/kg)

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Farm family exposure to glyphosate

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  1. Farm family exposure to glyphosate Monsanto U Mn School of Public Health Rollins School of Public Health Exponent Corp. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives

  2. Glyphosate characteristics • Low acute oral LD50 (> 5,000 mg/kg) • Not considered to cause mutagens, cancers, no effect on reproductive system or development • Low vapor pressure – low inhalation potential • Dermal penetration < 2% of dose placed on skin Overall low potential for harm to applicators

  3. Study Purpose • Identify real-world pesticide exposure and factors before, during, and after application • Glyphosate – 2nd in pounds applied in US agriculture – US EPA 2002

  4. Participants • Certified pesticide applicators – South Carolina & Minnesota • Farmer, spouse, 1+ child 4 to 18 years old • Live on farm • Farm at least 10 acres within 1 mi of residence • Make at least 1 glyphosate application / yr

  5. Participants • Answer questions and allow observation • Collect all urine for 5 consecutive days – day before, application day, 3 consecutive days after • 48 families – 78 children • Field observer documented weather, application practices, family activities

  6. Characteristics • 48 families – 25 MN 23 SC • Average age – farmer 45, spouse 42 • Used pesticides for 23.9 years • 15% cigarette smokers • Few spouses personally mixed pesticides

  7. Practices – survey responses • 29% applied glyphosate within 7 days of study • 22% never wore protective gloves • 27% changed gloves 1 to 4 times per season • 96% of spouses had not mix pesticides within 1 week of study

  8. Practices • 60% used enclosed cab tractors • 33% treated 10 to 44 ac; 33% - 45 to 145 ac; 33% - 125 to 439ac • 25% - 1 to 2 loads; 31% - 3 loads; 25% 4 to 6 loads; 19% 7 to 12 loads • Most applied Roundup Ultra

  9. Spray day observations • 71% wore rubber gloves - mixing /loading/ application • 31% had skin contact w/ glyphosate • 15% spills during mixing and /or loading • 27% repaired their equipment at some time during the application

  10. Results – Applicator

  11. Detectable glyphosate in urine Level ranged from <1 ppb to 332 ppb Some sprayed > 100 acres – no detection in urine 60% of application day samples positive 27% positive 3 days after

  12. 96% used rubber gloves 1.4 ppb in urine • 43 % used rubber gloves 7.9 ppb in urine 3.2 ppb mean for all farmers – application day

  13. Glyphosate in urine (ppb) Yes No Wore gloves when mixing 1.5 9.7 Closed cab 2.0 6.5 Mixing loading spill 7.3 2.7 Application spill 9.2 2.5 Observed skin contact 9.0 2.0 Equipment repair 7.2 2.3

  14. Glyphosate in urine (ppb) Acres treated 10-44 45-124 125-439 2.9 2.9 3.8 No. of loads 1-2 3 4-6 7-12 1.2 2.9 3.8 10.7

  15. Factors associated with INCREASE in urinary glyphosate when gloves NOT used More • Acres treated • Mixing / loading operations • Observed spills • Equipment repairs

  16. Results – 78 children • 9 (11%) had detectable levels of glyphosate - all from South Carolina • 8 of 26 (31%) present during mixing or application had detectable levels • Highest conc (29 ppb) in teenage boy most active in assisting with mixing and application - father had highest urine conc (233) - had spills, spent long periods repairing boom & smoked during repairs

  17. Results – 48 spouses • None participated in applications • 2 (4%) had detectable levels of glyphosate – highest 3 ppb • 8 in immediate area of mixing and loading- none had detectable levels • 40 (83%) washed applicators clothes during study – 2 (5%) had detectable glyphosate levels (1 ppb)

  18. Glyphosate exposure • Maximum farmer dose was 0.004 mg/kg • Average farmer dose was 0.0001 mg/kg • EPA lowest no effect level set at 175 mg/kg/d • Estimated daily oral exposure for life with no harmful effect – 2 mg/kg/d

  19. Limits of study • Only one application evaluated per family • All were tractor boom sprayer applications • Participation in study may have affected behavior of applicators

  20. Some lessons • Use of rubber gloves when mixing, loading, and applying glyphosate was associated with greatly reduced urinary concentrations of glyphosate • Little evidence of glyphosate exposure to family members not participating in or around exposures • Increased loading, mixing, and repairs increases potential for exposure • What would you add?

  21. Reminders • Glyphosate is not as likely to be absorbed through the skin or enter through the lungs as other pesticides used on the farm • Glyphosate metabolism in the body may be very different than that for other pesticides • This study points out factors that affect exposure – the effects will vary with other products

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