Residue studies of ultra-low volume applications of permethrin in county parks in saginaw, michigan

RESIDUE STUDIES OF ULTRA-LOW
VOLUME APPLICATIONS OF PERMETHRIN
IN COUNTY PARKS IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN
R.G. Knepper1, E.D. Walker2, M.A. Kamrin3, and C.A. Vandervoort4 1Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission 2Department of Entomology, Michigan State University 3Environmental Toxicology Program, Michigan State University 4National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, Michigan State University ABSTRACT
Residue levels of Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) permethrin were measured with filter papers placed on 30 common playground and park objects. The highest detectable residue level measured was 4.48ng/sq.cm. at 15 minutes post-treatment. A risk analysis based on the World Health Organization’s Acceptable Daily Intake(ADI) was conducted using the highest residue collected. This analysis concludes that ULV spraying for adult mosquito control presents minimal risk to humans. INTRODUCTION
Ultra-low volume (ULV) application of insecticides from ground equipment is a standard method used to control adult mosquito populations. The ULV approach, both in terms of method of application and the formulations of insecticides used is not intended to leave insecticide residues on surfaces. The objective is to make the application in the air, where drift will occur, and mosquitoes in flight will come into contact with the micron size droplets of insecticide. These applications present a low health risk to humans because of the low dermal exposure and low mammalian toxicity of the insecticide. ULV applied insecticides are thought to have low deposition onto surfaces compared with expected, or “theoretical” values (Tucker et al. 1987, Moore et al. 1993, Tietz et al. 1994). Tietz et al. (1996) found malathion deposits on filter paper in front yards (about 11 m from the street) averaged 88.8 ng/cm2 immediately after application. Studies conducted by Knepper et al (1996) determined that ULV applications of malathion and permethrin over grass surfaces resulted in neither compound persisting much beyond 36 hours post-treatment. However, questions continue to arise as to whether ULV applied insecticides deposit onto surfaces and form residues. If so, how long do these residues persist, and what risk do they pose to human health. Therefore, studies were conducted to determine residues of permethrin applied by ULV ground equipment. The studies were conducted in two county parks (Figure 1) located in Saginaw, Michigan. Residue levels were determined by placing filter papers on equipment located in the parks. After ULV applications of two permethrin insecticide formulations the filter papers were collected and analyses for residue Figure 1. View of park area sprayed MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted in two county parks located in Saginaw County, MI in September 1999. The first park utilized was Immerman Park, where Biomist 4+4 (4% permethrin, 4% PBO, oil based formulation) was applied at an application rate of 5.0 fl.oz.min (0.0019 lbs AI/acre). The second park was Harvey Randall Wicks, where Aqua-Reslin (20% permethrin, 20% PBO, water based formulation) was mixed at a ratio of 1 part Aqua-Reslin: 2 parts water and applied at 4.4 fl.oz./min (0.0019 lbs AI/acre). Fifteen surfaces (Table 1) were selected at each park with two circular shaped filter papers (185 mm (Figure 2) and collected at 15 minutes and 12- hour post-treatment sampling. Surface Areas Sampled
Immerman Park
Distance
H.R. Wicks Park
Distance
Table 1. Surface areas sampled during study. The surface areas sampled at Immerman Park varied from 20-67 feet from spray truck during application. At Harvey Randall Wicks Park, surface areas sampled varied from 21-75 feet from application truck. Seven additional surface areas were sampled a few miles away to serve as controls. Prior to application, ULV machine had droplet characterization performed using the hand wave method with teflon coated slides (Summit Chemical Co., Baltimore, Maryland). During application, two rotating impingers (John W. Hock Co., Gainesville, Florida) were placed in spray area to capture insecticide droplets for further characterization information. Filter papers (Figure 3) were collected by hand with wearer using a clean latex glove for each individual sample. Filter papers were then placed into clean 8 oz. glass jars fitted with aluminum foil seals inside the lids. Jars were then placed on Figure 3. Filter papers on picnic wet ice for transportation back to the table prior to collection. laboratory and stored at –10 C. Filter paper samples were analyzed at the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at Michigan State University. Each sample was analyzed by using gas chromatography for cis- and transpermethrin. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Weather data was collected hourly during this study. During insecticide applications, temperatures were 17-18 C, relative humidity ranged from 34-46% with wind velocity very low at 0-1 mph. Weather during the entire test period had a temperature range of 18-13 C, winds calm at 0-2 mph with no precipitation or morning dew. One truck mounted ULV characterization performed et
determined that mass cm 0.8
for Biomist and 18.31µ for /-+
Aqua-Reslin. The slide 0.2
rotator placed at Immerman M
15 minutes
Time After Application
of 496 droplets with a mass Figure 4. Post-treatment permethrin residues. median diameter of 23.62µ. At Harvey Randall Wicks Park the slide rotator collected a total of 137 droplets with a MMD of 16.53µ for Aqua-Reslin. Table 2 – Hypothetical Risk Assessment
• WHO Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of permethrin is 0.05 mg/kg/day (50,000 ng/kg) for the lifetime of an individual. • Assume that a child weighing 25 kg (55 lbs) plays with a ball 28.2 cm in diameter (equals 2,498 sq.cm. surface area). • If one-half the ball is covered with mean 12-hour level of permethrin detected (0.5794ng/cm), then total residue would be 723.7 ng (0.5794ng X 1,249 sq.cm) • Assume 12-hours after application a child plays with the ball and comes in contact with the permethrin. • Assume that 10% of the permethrin is absorbed through • Total amount of permethrin entering the child’s body is • Actual exposure compared to ADI equals 2.8948 ng/kg • Exposure is 17,272 times less then ADI on a daily basis. Results from filter paper analysis showed that residues of permethrin of both formulations were detected. Residues were detectable in the range of 0-4.48 ng/cm. per filter paper. A risk analysis (Table 2) based upon the World Health Organization (WHO) Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.05 mg permethrin/kg body weight/day was conducted using the maximum measured level of permethrin on a playground object which was 1.2 µg per filter paper (4.48ng/sq.cm) at 15 minutes post-treatment (Figure 4). ADI is defined as the maximum dose of a substance that is anticipated to be without health risk to humans when taken daily over the course of a lifetime. Thus, levels of permethrin absorption to sample child are 17,272x’s less on the than ADI for one day and over 6 million times less when annualized for a year’s exposure. The ADI value is based on lifetime daily exposure and assumes 100% absorption through skin upon contact. In real life conditions permethrin applications occur infrequently and exposure does not always occur. Additionally, permethrin breaks down rapidly in the environment and absorption through skin is likely to be much less that 100%. Finally, exposure is likely to occur only a limited number of days per year rather than 365 days per year. This means that the average daily exposure is lower than the amount measured on the surface of the ball. Thus, the measured levels really correspond to values much less than the daily and yearly levels as calculated above. Accordingly, residues of permethrin resulting from ULV applications in mosquito control programs are unlikely to pose a significant health risk to children or adults. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to thank William Jany of Clarke Mosquito Control Products for the generous financial support to fund the gas chromatography analysis of this study. Thanks also to the staff of the Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission for their assistance in the implementation of this study; and finally to the anonymous reviewers and editors for improving the manuscript. REFERENCES CITED
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Source: http://www.scmac.org/pdf/ulv_residues.pdf