RISK ASSESSMENT FOR EMPLOYEES USING PICOLINAFEN-BASED HERBICIDE

The aim of this work is to conduct a hygienic risk assessment for workers when using a herbicide based on picolinafen and to study its cumulative properties in a subacute experiment on male white rats. Material and methods. The object of the study was a herbicide based on picolinafen (CAS No. 37641-05-5). The content in the preparation is 21 g/l. The treatment was carried out by spraying wheat at a consumption rate of 3.5 l/ha and a working solution of 250 l/ha. The risk assessment for employees was carried out in accordance with the current technical regulatory legal acts. The toxic effect in a subacute experiment was studied with daily intragastric administration of picolinafen-based herbicide to male white rats for 28 days. At the end of the experiment the indices of the blood morphofunctional state, as well as those of hormonal and biochemical status were determined. Results. In the field, when carrying out mechanical treatments in compliance with the regulations for the use of the drug, there was no excess of the hygienic standards of the active substance in the air of the working area and there was no deterioration in working conditions. The total risk of dermal and inhalation exposure for the workers made up 0.015 and did not exceed the permissible level. The introduction of the herbicide based on picolinafen in a subacute experiment to rats at doses of 50.0, 300.0 and 900.0 mg/kg does not contribute to the development of lethal outcomes. According to the classification this preparation belongs to the substances with weakly expressed cumulation. However, the effect of a dose of 900.0 mg/kg of the drug initiated a statistically significant decrease in the relative coefficients of the liver mass by 12.5%, an increase in the content of leukocytes and platelets by 15.7% and 15.5%, respectively, against the background of a decreased average volume of platelets by 18,6%. Conclusions. The research results made it possible to evaluate the picolinafen-based herbicide as a drug with an acceptable risk for workers in the agro-industrial complex. Under the conditions of a subacute experiment, a dose of 300.0 mg/kg of the herbicide can be accepted as a threshold (inactive), however, additional experiments are required with the use of morphological research methods, as well as experiments with a longer exposure period and an increase in the levels of administered doses.