Assessing dermal exposure to pesticides from non-agricultural uses: a UK health and safety executive (HSE) perspective.

Within the UK exposure of the consumer to pesticides via food is under the jurisdiction of the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD). However, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also has an input into the pesticide approvals process and this is related to worker safety. In terms of agricultural use, HSE has always had a watching brief as far as operator exposure is concerned either by doing work itself or by funding research. They also have a responsibility for assessing worker exposure from the so called non-agricultural uses of pesticides, such as timber preservatives, and this article outlines HSE activities in this context. The author of this article, Andrew Phillips, is a chemist by training and has spent most of his career working for the HSE in the ®eld of occupational hygiene and has addressed a wide range of chemical exposure issues. He is currently a Principal Specialist Investigator working within the Biocides and Pesticides Assessment Unit of HSE's Health Directorate. He has speci®c responsibilities for issues related to exposure assessment of pesticides and biocides in support of HSE's statutory role for worker safety and other regulatory activities. Articles to be featured in forthcoming issues include topics such as Genetic Manipulation, the work of WHO/FAO in the pesticide arena, USA food survey programmes and consumer attitudes to pesticide use.