Effect of Abrasion on Penetration of Tri-allate Through Selected Disposable Coverall Fabrics

Many agricultural workers wear disposable nonwoven coveralls while applying pesticides in the field. The degree of protection these garments offer after abrasive wear has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of abrasion on the penetration of a liquid pesticide, tri-allate, through selected disposable garment fabrics: Kleenguard® EP and Tyvek®. The relationship between the initial thickness and the initial mass of the fabric specimens and pesticide penetration also was examined to determine the effect of initial fabric variability on penetration. Penetration of tri-allate through the two fabrics differed statistically although total penetration was less than 1 % for both fabrics. Abrasion simulating one day's wearing resulted in a statistically significant increase in penetration through Kleenguard® EP but had no effect on penetration through Tyvek®. Initial mean thickness correlated with the penetration of tri-allate for Tyvek® at all three levels of abrasion and for unabraded Kleenguard® EP, but there was no correlation between initial mean thickness and pesticide penetration on abraded Kleenguard® EP specimens. Abrasion was a greater determinant of the rate of pesticide penetration than initial variability in thickness for Kleenguard® EP; initial variability in thickness remained a significant factor in pesticide penetration even after abrasion for Tyvek®. Initial mass did not correlate with pesticide penetration for either fabric.