Estimation of occupational risk in herbicide application

The aim of this study was to estimate the occupational risk for operators and workers in herbicide application in Sanliurfa, Turkey. In this study, 2,4-D, clodinafop-propar- gyl, dicamba, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, foramsulfuron, icdosulfuron-methyl-sodium, nicosulfuron, pinoxaden, tribenuron-methyl, and tritosulfuron were used for determining the occupational risk. In this study, it was obtained that the highest risk was assessed in diclofop-methyl as 1.913 Exceedence Factor (EF) value. The lowest risk was found in nicosulfuron due to its 0.230 EF value. In the result of this study, it was determined that herbicide has risk for occupational health. These risks can be minimized by using equipment such as personnel protective equipment, increasing awareness of pesticide side effects on operator and worker and advanced proper application technique and equipment, etc