Glyphosate internal dose estimation: comparing passive dosimetry and biomonitoring in simulated heavy residential herbicide application

Daniel G. Kougias; Rongcan Sun; Kenneth M. Unice; Eric W. Miller; Jennifer Pierce; Michael Kovochich

doi:10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4101

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Glyphosate internal dose estimation: comparing passive dosimetry and biomonitoring in simulated heavy residential herbicide application

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

Volume 77 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

By: Daniel G. Kougias , Rongcan Sun, Kenneth M. Unice, Eric W. Miller, Jennifer Pierce and Michael Kovochich

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Figures & Tables

Study design schematic for dermal versus inhalation exposure groups. Left: Dermal exposure group, in which applicators wore typical summer clothing (t-shirt, shorts, and athletic shoes) and a half-face respirator, with no dermal patches applied because the skin was directly exposed. Right: Inhalation exposure group, in which applicators wore Tyvek® coveralls covering the arms, legs, and torso, along with chemical-resistant gloves, but no respirator. Four dermal patches were placed on the outside of the coveralls at the shins, thigh, and forearm (shown as blue-outlined circles) to measure potential dermal deposition. All other aspects of the exposure scenario, including spray equipment, product concentration, application duration, and total volume applied, were identical for both groups

Different techniques and assumptions in estimating internal daily doses of glyphosate originating from A) dermal exposure and B) inhalation exposure. Bars represent mean ± SEM. The blue-dotted line represents the internal dose benchmark derived from the most conservative regulatory health-based guidance value established for glyphosate. *p<0.05; ns: not statistically significant

Mean total internal doses of glyphosate estimated from summing those derived from dermal patch data and air sampling data across the different methods and ventilation rates (passive dosimetry) alongside an approximate route-combined biomonitoring-derived internal dose estimated by summing mean internal doses from the dermal and inhalation exposure groups

Applicator-specific information from the six applicators in the inhalation exposure group, including estimated total body surface areas (BSAs), body weight-adjusted ventilation rates (Rp), and glyphosate concentrations determined in dermal patch and breathing zone air samples

	Applicator #7	Applicator #8	Applicator #9	Applicator #10	Applicator #11	Applicator #12
Sex	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Dermal considerations
Age group	30s	30s	30s	20s	20s	20s
Estimated BSA (cm²): Method #1	23,335	17,510	24,040	15,454	21,868	15,310
Estimated BSA (cm²): Method #2	22,449	18,149	22,449	17,756	21,915	17,756
Inhalation considerations
Age group	31 to <41	31 to <41	21 to <31	21 to <31	21 to <31	21 to <31
R_p (m³/min-kg) for moderate-intensity activities	0.000344	0.000304	0.000345	0.000316	0.000345	0.000316
R_p (m³/min-kg) for high-intensity activities	0.000625	0.00059	0.000644	0.000627	0.000644	0.000627
Sample location	Dermal patch glyphosate concentrations (µg/cm²)						Average
Left shin^a	37.89	2.72	5.75	6.95	2.40	36.62	15.39
Right shin^a	42.94	6.19	28.41	5.62	0.95	2.46	14.43
Forearm^b	0.055	7.58	0.19	0.76	16.42	25.89	8.48
Thigh^c	0.82	2.53	0.57	0.63	22.10	35.99	10.44
Average	20.43	4.75	8.73	3.49	10.47	25.24	12.18
Sample location	Breathing zone air glyphosate concentrations (µg/m³)						Average
Left lapel	4.4	3.5	5.2	5.7	4.8	7.5	5.2
Right lapel	3.3	3.0	3.1	3.7	5.6	6.0	4.1
Average	3.9	3.3	4.2	4.7	5.2	6.8	4.7

Apportioned body regions and the corresponding patch, clothing protection, and assumed clothing penetration factor used in estimations of internal dose resulting from dermal exposure for each individual applicator

Apportioned Body Region	BSA Method #1 (sex, height, weight)	BSA Method #2 (age & sex)	Patch Used	Clothing Protection	Clothing Penetration Factor	Dermal Absorption Factor
Head	✓	✓	minimum of all four patches	No	1	0.01
Trunk	✓	✓	minimum of all four patches	Yes	0.1049	0.01
Upper arms	†	†	minimum of all four patches	Yes	0.1049	0.01
Forearms	†	†	forearm	No	1	0.01
Hands	✓	✓	forearm	No	1	0.01
Thighs	✓	†	thigh	Yes	0.1049	0.01
Lower legs	✓	†	average of lower leg patches	No	1	0.01
Feet	✓	✓	average of lower leg patches	Yes	0.1049	0.01

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4101 | Journal eISSN: 1848-6312 | Journal ISSN: 0004-1254

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Language: English

Page range: 84 - 95

Submitted on: Jan 1, 2026

Accepted on: May 1, 2026

Published on: Jun 30, 2026

Published by: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

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Related subjects:

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other

© 2026 Daniel G. Kougias, Rongcan Sun, Kenneth M. Unice, Eric W. Miller, Jennifer Pierce, Michael Kovochich, published by Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 77 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

Glyphosate internal dose estimation: comparing passive dosimetry and biomonitoring in simulated heavy residential herbicide application

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Applicator-specific information from the six applicators in the inhalation exposure group, including estimated total body surface areas (BSAs), body weight-adjusted ventilation rates (Rp), and glyphosate concentrations determined in dermal patch and breathing zone air samples

Apportioned body regions and the corresponding patch, clothing protection, and assumed clothing penetration factor used in estimations of internal dose resulting from dermal exposure for each individual applicator

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