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Before 2007, there was no mandated air
sampling for pesticides in Washington State. Several independent
efforts have investigated whether pesticides were creating air
quality problems in agricultural communities. These are listed below
with links to their results.
Reports
2006
Washington State University, Food and Environmental Quality
Laboratory conducted a comparison of off-target movement of soil
fumigant (methyl isothiocyanate) from two different application
methods. "Optimizing Fumigant
Efficacy While Minimizing Off-target Volatile Emissions"
(PDF
2.5MB)
2006
A community effort by farm worker families in the Yakima Valley, the
Farm Worker Pesticide Project, and the Pesticide Action Network
conducted air sampling for the insecticide chlorpyrifos in Spring
2006. The report is titled "Poisons on the Wind".
2005
Washington State University, Food and Environmental Quality
Laboratory conducted ambient air sampling in south Franklin County
for a soil fumigant - methyl isothiocyanate. "MITC
Residential Community Air Assessment; South Franklin County,
Washington" (PDF 2MB)
2002
Aerial Spray Drift Study. University of Washington and
Washington State University collaborated to measure for drift from a methamidophos application (an organophosphate insecticide) in a
nearby residential community. Drift monitoring included air
sampling indoors and outdoors in the nearby residential community as
well as pesticide droplet deposition around the treated fields. Homes and children in the nearby residential community were also
monitored for pesticide exposure. Results are reported in the
following three papers.
The state of California has conducted
air monitoring for pesticides in agricultural areas. Some of
the pesticides monitored are used in Washington. For more
information, visit our resources/links.
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