Minimizing occupational exposure to pesticides: Reentry field data—a recapitulation

The occupational exposure of field workers to postapplication insecticide residues in the agricultural setting is referred to as the “reentry problem.” This problem is associated with illnesses precipitated by excessive Cholinesterase depression resulting from exposure to and consequent absorption of persisting residues of the organophosphorus insecticides and their toxic alteration products. The problem is not new. It came into existence hand-in-hand with the introduction in the early 1950s of organophosphorus insecticides into agriculture. The carbamate insecticides have received less emphasis since Cholinesterase inhibition is reversible with these compounds and, consequently, the problem can disappear before it can be unambiguously established for a field population. In addition to protecting workers from acute exposure, the question of health effects arising from chronic exposure also needs to be addressed. This considerably broadens the definition of the reentry problem and encompasses all insecticides since the potential exists that they may be teratogenic, oncogenic, or mutagenic or cause specific problems such as sterility or nerve damage. Information is needed which can be used to assess the potential hazards, if any, that workers are exposed to under actual field conditions, then to mitigate, or somehow compensate for, these hazards.