Textile pesticide penetration using XPS and FTIR/PAS

This research provides information about the location of pesticides in fibers and fabrics after contaminating one fabric side either with undiluted liquid pesticide or dilute pesticide spray. Three fabrics were evaluated: a 100% undyed cotton twill, the same cotton twill but treated with a fluorocarbon finish, and an experimental unfinished spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded (SMS) polypropylene nonwoven fabric. These fabrics were contaminated with either dicofol or Terrazole.

Penetration of pesticide into fibers and fabrics was measured using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR/PAS). Penetration of the pesticides into the fibers was determined by comparing XPS spectra collected after various amounts of argon ion etching or by comparing FTIR/PAS spectra collected using different interferometer mirror velocities. Penetration of the pesticides into the fabrics was determined by comparing XPS spectra of FTIR/PAS spectra collected from the contaminated fabric side, the back fabric side, and the ground fabric powder.

Although none of the three textiles completely prevented penetration of both pesticides through fabrics to their back sides, the SMS textile restricted penetration the best. Of the two fibers examined, cotton absorbed the most pesticide into its interior. The application of a fluorocarbon finish to cotton did not eliminate pesticide penetration through the fabric but apparently reduced pesticide deposition on fiber surfaces for at least one of the pesticides.