Assessment of the occupational exposure to dithiocarbamates fungicides among workers in three agricultural sectors

Dithiocarbamate fungicides are widely used in France. This study investigated winegrowing, horticulture and potato-farming workers exposed to commercial products containing ethylenebisdithiocarbamates. Purpose of the study. To quantify exposure by measuring urinary excretion of the main metabolite, ethylenethiourea (ETU), and correlate the results with observed work practices. Method. The protocol comprised observation of the worker's spraying technique by an occupational health physician or a prevention consultant and ETU determination before (in the morning of the day of observation) and after exposure (48 h to 96 h after the end of exposure on the day of observation). Results. A significant elevation (p = .0001) of ETU levels was observed with a median urinary ETU level of 0.43 p,mu g/g of creatinine before exposure and 2.62 mu g/g of creatinine after exposure. The only significantly effective individual protective measure was the use of a mask during preparation (p = 0.012), indicating the predominant role of respiratory tract contamination. In contrast, nail-biting was shown to have a negative impact (p = 0.043). These two findings can be explained by the very fine inhalable powder formulation of commercial products. A closed tractor cabin also appeared to have a protective effect, as already observed during a previous study. Conclusion. This study demonstrates the value of an occupational toxicology approach to provide a real evaluation and understanding of the occupational risk related to exposure to chemical substances in order to guide primary prevention measures. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.