Potential Operator Exposure when Spraying in a Strawberry and Raspberry Tunnel System

The pesticide exposure of the operator during the spraying application in strawberry and raspberry was measured due to a tunnel or conventional ’open field’ cultivating system. A quick and easy passive sampling method was developed consisting of the use of transparent overhead sheets cut to a 10 x 10 cm2 WHO-standard size. The operator exposure when carrying out the spraying application was mainly significantly higher for a tunnel system compared with the conventional open field system for strawberry as well as raspberry. However, the drift of pesticide to the environment is expected to be higher for an open field system. This is due to the documented higher influence of the wind vector in an open area. Additionally, the operator exposure is more dependent of length of rows, number of turnings, the use of drift minimizing spraying equipment, wind conditions, driving speed and other operations like filling and mixing of pesticides. Normally the number of applications also will be decreased by using a tunnel system, due to less attack of fungus and other diseases. Thus, tunnel cultivation is recommended as an important tool to improve the quality of the berries, increase the yield and reduce the total use of pesticides