Direct dermal and inhalation exposure of bystanders and residents during vine foliar application using sprayer equipment fitted with an anti-drift device: a comparison between measured exposure levels and existing exposure models

Abstract

Within the European Union (EU) regulatory framework, plant protection products (PPPs) must be evaluated according to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. Bystander/resident exposures can be assessed using the current EU harmonised predictive EFSA model; however, the number of experimental data included in this model is rather limited. In the experimental study conducted, direct dermal and inhalation exposures of bystanders/residents caused by the spray drift during vine foliar application using sprayer equipment fitted with an anti-drift device were quantified. The exposure levels measured during the experimental exposure study were compared to those calculated using the BROWSE model, the former German model, and the EFSA model. The measured direct dermal exposure levels of bystanders/residents were found to be lower than the exposure levels calculated with the BROWSE model using the 95th percentiles [experimental study/BROWSE model (%): 3.9% and 2.1%, respectively for adults and children], and using the 75th percentiles (16% and 7.8%, respectively for adults and children), the German model using the 95th percentiles [experimental study/German model (%): 4.0% and 12%, respectively for adults and children], and much lower than those calculated with the EFSA model using the 95th percentiles [experimental study/EFSA model (%): 0.27% and 0.40% for adults and children, respectively] and using the 75th percentiles (0.51% and 0.62%, respectively for adults and children). Exposure levels via the inhalation route represented less than 1.7% of dermal exposures. The results of this experimental exposure study could be used to refine the bystander/resident exposure estimates provided by the EFSA model.