Journal or Publishing Institution: Environmental Science & Technology
Study: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es980580o
Author(s): Nishioka, M.G., Burkholder, H.M., Brinkman, M.C. and Lewis, R.G.
Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study
Record ID: 1782b
Abstract: Transport of lawn-applied 2,4-D into 13 actual homes was measured following both homeowner and commercial application of this herbicide to residential lawns. Collection of floor dust in five rooms of each house, corresponding to an entryway, living room, dining room, kitchen, and a child’s bedroom, both prior to and after application, indicated that turf residues are transported indoors and that the gradient in 2,4-D dust loading (μg/m2) through the house follows the traffic pattern from the entryway. Removal of shoes at the door and the activity level of the children and pets were the most significant factors affecting residue levels indoors after application. Spray drift and fine particle intrusion accounted for relatively little of the residues on floors. Prior to application, the median 2,4-D bulk floor dust loading was 0.5 μg/m2; one week after application, the median 2,4-D floor dust level in the living room was 6 μg/m2, with a range of 1−228 μg/m2 on all carpeted floors in occupied homes, and 0.5−2 μg/m2 in unoccupied homes. The 2,4-D loadings on the carpet surface (dislodgeable residue/dust) were highly correlated with the 2,4-D bulk dust loadings. From these data we estimate that approximately 1% of the bulk dust is on the carpet surface, and it is this surface dust that may be readily available for dermal contact.
Keywords: herbicide exposure, herbicide transport, residential exposure, 2,4-D, spray drift, fine particle intrusion
Citation: Nishioka, M.G., Burkholder, H.M., Brinkman, M.C. and Lewis, R.G., 1999. Distribution of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in floor dust throughout homes following homeowner and commercial lawn applications: quantitative effects of children, pets, and shoes. Environmental Science & Technology, 33(9), pp.1359-1365.
