Pesticide exposures in professional turf applicators, job titles, and tasks performed: implications of exposure measurement error for epidemiologic study design and interpretation of results.

Background: Little information on the validity of job title and task classifications, for the prediction of pesticide use or exposure, is available.

Methods: Job titles and task classifications were evaluated in relation to the absorbed dose of herbicides in 98 professional turf applicators. Self-reported use over a 1-week period and other proxies of pesticide use were compared with employer records.

Results: Job titles and tasks performed explained (R(2)) 11% and 16% of the variation in dose, respectively. Individuals who sprayed pesticides only, had the highest average doses in the study followed by those spraying and mixing, and those mixing only. The use of 2,4-D products by individual workers over a work season was not related to standardized measures of the amount purchased or used at the company.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that job titles and tasks performed are poor proxies of pesticide use and exposures in professional turf applicators.