Non-dietary human exposure
This guidance provides information on non-dietary exposure risk assessments for plant protection products (PPP) and active substances. It is not intended to be a complete guide but is a source of information relating to topics where advice is frequently sought.
Before PPP are placed on the market, they are assessed to ensure they do not have any harmful effect on human health. One aspect of this risk assessment considers exposure via non-dietary routes, including inhalation, dermal absorption and ingestion.
In a non-dietary exposure risk assessment, the following groups are considered:
- Operators: people (either professional or amateur) involved in activities related to the application of a PPP. These activities include mixing, loading, and application of a PPP, as well as cleaning and maintenance of equipment containing a PPP
- Workers: people who, as part of their employment, enter an area that has been treated with a PPP or who handle a crop that has been treated with a PPP
- Bystanders: people who are not involved in working with PPP but may be located within, or directly adjacent to the area where product application is in process or has recently been completed. Bystanders are assumed to be exposed during a short period of time and take no action to avoid or control exposure
- Residents: people who are not involved in working with PPP but who live, work or attend any institution near to areas treated with PPP. Residents are assumed to be exposed during a longer period of time than bystanders and take no action to avoid or control exposure
Assessing non-dietary exposure
All current applications submitted for authorisation in GB should be conducted with the 2014 EFSA Exposure Guidance and calculator (EFSA Website) where appropriate.
The 2022 update to the EFSA Exposure Guidance has been endorsed in the EU and will be implemented for EU assessments from 1st January 2023.
HSE propose to implement the updated guidance in GB and we will be seeking stakeholders’ views on that proposal, which will include the possible timeline for use in GB.
Assessing non-dietary exposure in NI
All applications submitted for authorisation in NI should be conducted with the 2022 EFSA Exposure Guidance and calculator where appropriate from 1 January 2023.