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The Washington State Legislature appropriated $538,000 in the 2007-2009 operating budget for the Department of Health to “examine airborne pesticide concentration levels in agricultural areas of the state". 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 (MITC).  This budget was passed April 22, 2007 and signed by the Governor on May 15, 2007.

Project Objective

The study will measure off-target movement of certain pesticides in the air in agricultural areas to see if levels detected exceed levels of public health concern.  Levels of concern will be based on human health reference values established by EPA and/or the state of California. Air monitoring will be conducted during the pesticide application season in areas where the pesticides are most likely to be used. Monitoring will include ambient monitoring and measurements of worst case scenarios (residents living next to treated fields). Results of the studies, along with any public health concerns, will be reported to the legislature by April 2009 or sooner if available. Details on studies planned will be posted below as they are finalized.

A panel of technical experts was recruited to advise the project. The recruitment criteria and list of members are posted on the technical panel page.

Project Leads

Cynthia López, Dr.PH.
Epidemiologist
Manager, Pesticide Program
WA Dept of Health
PO Box 47846
Olympia, WA 98504-7846
360.236.3340
Cynthia.lopez@doh.wa.gov

Richard Fenske, PhD
Michael Yost, PhD
Professors
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
School of Public Health and Community Medicine
University of Washington
Campus Box 357234
Seattle, WA 98195-7234
rfenske@u.washington.edu
airion@u.washington.edu

Vincent Hebert, PhD Research Scientist, Food and Environmental Quality Laboratory
Washington State University
2710 University Drive
Richland, WA  99352
vhebert@tricity.wsu.edu

2008 Projects

• Sampling Plan - Pilot Organophosphate Pesticide Air Monitoring Project (UW) - February 29, 2008 revised March 31, 2008 (pdf  84.30kb)

• Progress Report - Pilot Organophosphate Pesticide Air Monitoring Project (UW) - June 17, 2008 (pdf  74.09kb)

2007 Projects

• Residential air monitoring for MITC in Franklin County (pdf 60.2KB)

• Near-field air sampling for MITC following two methods of metam sodium application (pdf 70.3KB)

• Air sampling near fields biofumigated with mustard crop (pdf 48.7KB)