Exposure of operators to pesticides in pesticide applications with back pack sprayer

Today, the importance of safe and sufficient food supply for human health is increasing day by day. In herbal production, it is tried to prevent the losses of plants due to harmful organisms. Incorrect and excessive use of pesticides in the chemical control method preferred by farmers causes negative risks in terms of human health, food safety and the environment. Studies have shown that the pesticides exposed by the applicators are higher in the backpack sprayers, which are preferred due to the differences in agricultural areas and geographical structure. In this study, pesticide residue values that operators are exposed to in applications with backpack sprayers were investigated. For this purpose, the classical backpack sprayer has been modified by adding a boom. In the applications made with this backpack sprayer, the pesticide values that the applicator was exposed to were determined in terms of volume median diameter (VMD), density of droplet (piece/cm2) and surface coverage (%). In addition, the same evaluations were made in the target areas applied. Hollow cone nozzle M2 (8002), which is currently in use, and air induction nozzle M1 (IDK 120-02 ) nozzle type, which can be an alternative, were used in the trials. The trials were carried out in two nozzle types at two different forward (walking) speeds (H1: 1 m/s and H2: 1.5 m/s) in field conditions. In the applications, the norm value was taken as 20 lt/da, the spray pressure (3 bar) and the spray height (50 cm) were taken as constant. In the applications, sampling surfaces were placed on the operator's body (head, chest, arms, legs) and on the target wedges. The volume median diameter, density of droplet and surface coverage on the operator and target surfaces were investigated. Water sensitive papers were used as sampling surfaces, and the image processing program (Image Tool for Windows V3) was used in the analysis of the gates. Obtained results were evaluated by statistical analysis. On the operator's body, M2*H2 with 52.85 µm maximum for VMD, M1*H2 for surface coveraga 0.24 and M1*H2 with 109 for droplet density can be selected. On the target surface, M2*H1 with a VMD value of 356.73 µm, M2*H1 for surface cıverage and M1*H2 for droplet density can be selected. In this study, it was concluded that the modified backpack sprayer can be used by reducing the risk for the operator.