PhD: Determination of the
key parameters influencing dislodgeable foliar pesticide residues
2019 - 2022
This PhD seeks to better
understand the factors
that affect the amount of pesticide residue on plant foliage that, on
contact, can be transferred to human skin and clothing (Dislodgeable
Foliar Residues - DFRs). This type of information can help evaluate:
- Occupational exposure:
Of farmers in their working environment. For example, by establishing
the period of elapsed time needed following greenhouse spraying before
it is safe to re-enter.
- Bystander exposure: Ensuring that
members of the public entering treated crop areas, do not encounter
unacceptable risks.
Previous research has shown
that there is a
relationship between the proportion of residue that is dislodgeable and
a range of factors including the pesticide application rate, chemical
characteristics, product formulation, environmental conditions
(including temperature and humidity), and the plant architecture and
leaf type. These issues are not fully understood, therefore the purpose
of this 4-year work programme is to explore some of these issues with
the intention of enabling the refinement of re-entry risk assessments.
The poject is being run
jointly by the
University of Hertfordshire and Syngenta’s prestigious international
research centre at Jealott's Hill, Berkshire.
Contact
Prof Kathy Lewis
Appointed student
Mohamed Badawy
Publications
- Badawy, M.H., Morgan, N. & Lewis, K.A. (2021). Correlation between dietary and dislodgeable foliar (DFR) crop residues decline data: a proposed approach to refine non-dietary risk assessment. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Preprint. DOI.
- Poster
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