Assessment of nursery workers’ dermal exposure to applied pesticide in Johor Bahru

Malaysia's agricultural sector continued to expand, contributing 9.6% to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, suggesting that agricultural sectors contribute to national economic development. However, increasing demand for agricultural production yields will lead to the continued use of pesticides in plant nurseries, where plants are cultivated and nurtured to a desired size for retail or wholesale trade purposes. Nursery workers are exposed to the risk of pesticide exposure through three main pathways: inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. This study aims to investigate and identify the agricultural practices of pesticide use at the selected nurseries over a two-month study period and to assess the level of pesticide exposure and potential health risk using mathematical exposure models. Data were collected through personal interviews and questionnaire surveys from 10 individuals using predesigned structured questionnaires with informed consent, together with the collection of pesticide labels. The daily exposure of nursery workers to single active ingredients was estimated using the agricultural operator exposure model (AOEM) ranged from to 4.06×10-4 mg kg-bw-1 day-1 - 1.86×10-1mg kg-bw-1 day-1 across the study period. The estimated exposure was then compared to the agriculture operator exposure level (AOEL) for each active ingredient, with any surplus indicating a possible health concern. The findings from the study can be used to direct efforts to mitigate potential risks to nursery workers. Out of 10 selected nursery workers, three individuals had applied biopesticides while four individuals experienced estimated daily exposure:AOEL of more than 1.0, suggesting the possibility of health risks. Thestudy findings propose possible strategies for minimizing pesticide exposure among nursery workers.