Golfer Exposure to Traditional Pesticides Following Application to Turfgrass

Abstract

The management of residential and golf course environments entails the use of pesticides and raises concerns about human exposure. Previous research demonstrated that exposure to some turfgrass pesticides is at a level that would concern risk assessors (Murphy K.C.; Cooper R.J.; and Clark J.M. Dislodgeable and volatile residues from insecticide-treated turfgrass. In, World Scientific Congress of Golf II. 1995). Using environmental monitoring, dosimetry, and biomonitoring, absorbed pesticide doses, as well as transfer and absorption dynamics, were determined following the play of golf, allowing an estimation of risk. The hands and lower legs received most of the dermal exposure, whereas airborne residues contributed little to exposure. The risk associated with pesticide exposure was determined by the hazard quotient (HQ) and margin of exposure (MOE) methods. HQs > 1.0 or MOEs < 100–300 give rise to a level of concern about possibly unsafe exposures. Dermal HQs ranged from ∼0.0001 (cyfluthrin with irrigation) to ∼0.006 (chlorothalonil without irrigation, 2,4-D, MCPP-p), while MOEs ranged from ∼160,000 (2,4-D) to 1,170,000 (cyfluthrin with irrigation), indicating limited concern from these exposures.