Agricultural Workers’ and Others’ Health Risks Caused by the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

1. Agricultural Workers’ and Others’ Health Risks Caused by the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Beatriz Bernal CHHS California State University, Monterey Bay

2. In other words chlorpyrifos has negatively affected the health of many in Monterey County, especially those who work in the agriculture industry. Therefore, more information on the pesticide should be made available to the public, in English as well as in Spanish.

3. Dow Chemical Company • U.S. EPA • At one point NO regulations • Not banned everywhere • Limited resources and access

4. Health Effects • Attacks the nervous system • Shortness of breath • Insomnia • Vomiting • Headaches • Acute and chronic

5. Farm Workers • A lot more in Monterey County • 50% affected by drift • Agricultural workers families • Children • Developmental delays • Deficit disorders • Hyperactivity disorders

6. Workers Protection Standard for Agricultural Workers (WPS) • 1992 • 2.5 million agricultural workers protected • Regulations and trainings • Resources • In different languages • Videos • Handouts

7. Monterey County Health Department (MYTHD) • Resources on the web • One resource in Spanish • What else can be done? • All illustrations from EPA resource • Inform users of alternatives • Easier access to resources • Advocate for safer pesticides • All resources be translated

8. References • Chlorpyrifos. (1993). Retrieved on September 20, 2011 from http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/chlorpyrifos-ext.html#50 • Jordan, M. (2003). Hushhush: The dark secrets of scientific research. Buffalo, NY :Firefly Books. • Monterey County Health Department (MYTHD). (2010). Pesticide exposure reporting procedures. Retrieved on October 21, 2011 from http://www.mtyhd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=456%3Apesticidereporting&catid=365%3Apesticide-exposure&Itemid=362&lang=en • National Pesticide Information Center. (2010a). Chlorpyrifos general fact sheet. Retrieved on October 21, 2011 from http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/chlorpgen.pdf • Quirós-Alcalá, L., Bradman, A., Nishioka, M., Harnly, M. E., Hubbard, A., McKone, T. E., & ... Eskenazi, B. (2011). Pesticides in house dust from urban and farm worker households in California: an observational measurement study. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source, 10(1), 19-33. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-10-19

9. Rauh, V., Arunajadai, S., Horton, M., Perera, F., Hoepner, L., Barr, D.B., & Whyatt, R. (2011). Seven-year neurodevelopmental scores and prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos pesticide. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119, 1196-1201. Doi: 10.1289/ehp.1003160 • Reeves, M. & Schafer, K. (2003). Greater risks, fewer rights. U.S. Farm Workers and Pesticides, 9,1. Retrieved on October 20, 2011 from http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/ijoeh/09-01-02.pdf • Smegal, D. (2000, June 8) Human health risk assessment, Chlorpyrifos. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved on September 20, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/meetings/2008/september/hed_ra.pdf • U.S. EPA . (2006a). Reregistration of eligibility decision for chlorpyrifos. Retrieved on October 4, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/REDs/chlorpyrifos_red.pdf • U.S. EPA. (2011b). Chlorpyrifos: Preliminary human health risk assessment for registration review. Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0850 • U.S. EPA. (2011c). Worker protection standard for agricultural pesticides. Retrieved on September 21, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/twor.html

10. Questions or Comments?