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.