Minimizing occupational exposure to pesticides: Federal reentry standards for farm workers (present and proposed)

A reentry standard could be defined as a regulatory measure instituted to limit the exposure of field workers to toxic pesticide residues upon entering previously treated agricultural areas. Included in this definition are (1) those measures designed to reduce the transfer of the toxic residues to the workers, and (2) those measures designed to reduce the residues available for exposure of the workers. Within the first group are protective clothing, gloves, respirators, dust masks, hats, and any other mechanical barriers between the applicator and the pesticide as applied. Within the second group are reentry intervals, spraying of foliage with water, closed system applications, and other means to reduce the pesticide residues. This paper is concerned mainly with reentry intervals.