Site Directory

• About the program

Pesticide Air Monitoring Study

Vea esta página en español

In 2007, the Washington State Legislature directed the Department of Health to conduct air monitoring studies of certain pesticides in agricultural areas. The legislature directed the Department of Health to contract with the University of Washington to study organophosphate pesticides and with Washington State University to study methyl isothiocyanate pesticides. The purpose of the pesticide air monitoring was to see if levels detected exceeded levels of public health concern.

The Department of Health held four public meeting to inform the public, local businesses, and other interested parties about this project and its preliminary findings. Meetings were held in Yakima, Granger, and Tumwater between January 2008 and May 2009. Meeting materials were made available in English and Spanish and simultaneous translation into Spanish was provided to Spanish speakers who attended the meetings.

Study Results

Organophosphate Air Monitoring in Yakima Valley and North Central Washington

Coddling moth and other destructive insects are common pests in orchards. The organophosphate insecticides used to control these pests can flow into the air and offsite into the surrounding community. In 2008, studies were conducted by the University of Washington in two orchard regions during the peak application season for these insecticides. The studies investigated whether air concentrations presented a breathing hazard for nearby homes and residential communities.

• Summary of Study (PDF 37KB)

• Final Report from UW (PDF 355KB)

  • Appendix A: Sampling Plans and Progress Reports (PDF 628KB)

  • Appendix B: Air Sampling Report, Region Maps, and Site Maps and Layouts (PDF 2MB)

  • Appendix C: Air Sampling Field Standard Operating Procedures (PDF 864KB)

  • Appendix D: Laboratory Analytical Report (PDF 500KB)

  • Appendix E: Field Quality Control Samples (PDF 612KB)

  • Appendix F: Laboratory Storage Stability (PDF 207KB)

  • Appendix G: Inter-Laboratory Comparison Sub-Study (PDF 116KB)

  • Appendix H: Potential Chlorpyrofos-oxon Generation Sub-Study (PDF 322KB)

  • Appendix I: Air Monitoring Tables (PDF 456KB)

  • Appendix J: Laboratory Results (PDF 838KB)

  • Appendix K: Wind Roses Figures (PDF 1.2MB)

  • Appendix L: Weather (PDF 100KB)

Methyl isothiocyanate Air Monitoring in South Franklin County

In south Franklin County, new housing and businesses are rapidly expanding into traditional agricultural areas. The use of pesticide fumigants on existing agricultural land raises public health concern for persons living and working nearby. Studies were conducted in this region in 2007 and 2008 by Washington State University to evaluate whether the peak periods of metam sodium soil fumigation caused air pollution at level of human health concern. Residential air monitoring was also conducted in 2008. View our MITC (methyl isothiocyanate) fact sheet (PDF 98KB).

MITC Residential Community Air Assessment: Franklin County, WA (2008)

• Summary of Study (PDF 22KB)

• Full Analytical Summary Report from WSU (PDF 16KB)

MITC Residential Community Air Assessment: Franklin County, WA (2007)

• Summary of Study (PDF 23KB)

• Full Analytical Summary Report from WSU (PDF 16KB)

Near-field Emissions for MITC following Shank Injection and Chemigation Applications of Metam-Sodium (2007)

• Summary of Study (PDF 21KB)

• Full Analytical Summary Report from WSU (PDF 1440KB)

Resources

Pesticide Air Monitoring Links