Malathion insecticide in vegetable oil is used to control Aedes aegypti and is applied by spraying, which requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The current study assessed the capacity of PPE suits to retain malathion. The study monitored field spraying in São Paulo, Brazil. Before each spraying, feminine sanitary napkins were placed under and upon the PPE suit in the chest, back, and forearms. After spraying, the sanitary napkins were removed, labeled, and submitted to extraction under mechanical agitation. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. Presence of malathion in sanitary napkins under PPE suits was observed after spraying and before washing the suits. The findings indicate that sprayers are exposed to malathion, even when they use new PPE suits.
Protective Devices; Organophosphate Insecticides; Aedes aegypti; Vector Control
