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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 2.46 MB)
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 2.11MB)
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.
Children's exposure to methamidophos in an agricultural community
following fixed-wing aircraft applications (html - abstract
available)
Assessment of
off-target organophosphorus insecticide atmospheric movement by
plant surface volatilization (html)
"The
Washington aerial spray drift study: Modeling pesticide spray drift deposition
form an aerial application" (pdf 470.61 KB)
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.
Reports from external
sources are provided as a public service and do not imply
endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.
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