The EL sampler: a press sampler for the quantitative estimation of dermal exposure to pesticides in housedust

Abstract

Indirect sampling techniques to estimate dermal exposure to pesticides on housedust-laden indoor surfaces should demonstrate collection efficiencies, for both particles and pesticide residues, which are similar to those that would adhere to the human skin. A spring-loaded press sampler has been developed that approximated the particle- and pesticide-collection efficiencies of a hand press of a human participant. Particle-collection efficiencies for the hand press and EL sampler, using housedust sieved to <250 µm in diameter, indicated that both sampling techniques collected similar particle fractions over the range of particle sizes. Pesticide-collection efficiencies measured on the participants hand (seven paired tests) were 42±7% atrazine, 29±8% diazinon, 43±8% malathion and 21±5% chlorpyrifos. The EL sampler collected 35±5%, 31±3%, 32±5% and 18±3% respectively. The collection efficiencies of the two sampling techniques were highly correlated for atrazine, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos (correlation coefficient=0.840, 0.815, and 0.706), but not for malathion (correlation coefficient=0.086).