Woodruff T J, Kyle A D, Bois F Y
Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California-San Francisco 94109.
Environ Health Perspect. 1994 Dec;102(12):1088-96. doi: 10.1289/ehp.941021088.
In this study, we used measurements of occupational exposures to pesticides in agriculture to evaluate health risks and analyzed how the federal regulatory program is addressing these risks. Dose estimates developed by the State of California from measured occupational exposures to 41 pesticides were compared to standard indices of acute toxicity (LD50) and chronic effects (reference dose). Lifetime cancer risks were estimated using cancer potencies. Estimated absorbed daily doses for mixers, loaders, and applicators of pesticides ranged from less than 0.0001% to 48% of the estimated human LD50 values, and doses for 10 of 40 pesticides exceeded 1% of the estimated human LD50 values. Estimated lifetime absorbed daily doses ranged from 0.1% to 114,000% of the reference doses developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and doses for 13 of 25 pesticides were above them. Lifetime cancer risks ranged from 1 per million to 1700 per million, and estimates for 12 of 13 pesticides were above 1 per million. Similar results were obtained for field workers and flaggers. For the pesticides examined, exposures pose greater risks of chronic effects than acute effects. Exposure reduction measures, including use of closed mixing systems and personal protective equipment, significantly reduced exposures. Proposed regulations rely primarily on requirements for personal protective equipment and use restrictions to protect workers. Chronic health risks are not considered in setting these requirements. Reviews of pesticides by the federal pesticide regulatory program have had little effect on occupational risks. Policy strategies that offer immediate protection for workers and that are not dependent on extensive review of individual pesticides should be pursued.
在本研究中，我们利用农业中农药职业暴露的测量数据来评估健康风险，并分析联邦监管计划如何应对这些风险。将加利福尼亚州根据对41种农药的职业暴露测量得出的剂量估计值与急性毒性（半数致死剂量）和慢性影响（参考剂量）的标准指标进行了比较。使用癌症毒性系数估算了终生癌症风险。农药混合工、装填工和施用工的估计每日吸收剂量范围为估计人类半数致死剂量值的不到0.0001%至48%，40种农药中有10种的剂量超过了估计人类半数致死剂量值的1%。估计终生每日吸收剂量范围为美国环境保护局制定的参考剂量的0.1%至114,000%，25种农药中有13种的剂量高于该参考剂量。终生癌症风险范围为百万分之一至百万分之1700，13种农药中有12种的估计值高于百万分之一。田间工人和旗手也得到了类似结果。对于所检测的农药，暴露造成的慢性影响风险大于急性影响风险。包括使用密闭混合系统和个人防护装备在内的暴露减少措施显著降低了暴露水平。拟议的法规主要依靠个人防护装备要求和使用限制来保护工人。在制定这些要求时未考虑慢性健康风险。联邦农药监管计划对农药的审查对职业风险影响甚微。应推行能立即为工人提供保护且不依赖对个别农药进行广泛审查的政策策略。
