Toxic Levels of Banned Pesticides Found in Air Samples

People in small towns in California participated in an air sampling study to determine their level of pesticide exposure. The 31 adults and 11 school kids wore backpacks that collected samples of the air they were breathing. Levels of banned pesticides were detected in 22% of adults and 10% of children. These San Joaquin Valley areas were included in the 6 top counties for most pounds of pesticides: Fresno, Kern, Madera, San Joaquin, and Tulare. Millions of pounds of chemical pesticides are used for California’s agriculture. 

Findings from the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology study included:

• Detectable levels of ≥1 pesticide were found in 7 adults, 1 child
• Among the concentrations/compounds detected:
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Pyrimethanil
  • Burprofezin
  • Penthiopyrad
  • 1,3-dichloropropene
  • Trifluralin

Those compounds either have been known to cause adverse health effects or deformities, or haven’t been fully studied enough. “We need to expand community measuring and monitoring of chemicals routinely used in agriculture. New studies are also needed to evaluate the potential toxicity of the chemicals people in California’s agricultural communities are routinely exposed to,” commented first author of the study, Deborah H. Bennett, PhD, a professor of environmental health at the UC Davis School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences.

The study concluded, “This study shows that individuals in agricultural regions of the San Joaquin Valley of California continue to be exposed to pesticides. This study suggests that we need to expand which pesticides we are measuring since personal exposure was observed for compounds not regularly measured in routine monitoring programs. Additionally, these compounds should undergo additional toxicity testing as the existing literature does show some signs of toxicity. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has implemented policies to reduce pesticide exposures and to promote Integrated Pest Management, a method that supports reduced pesticide use through alternative pest management strategies.”

Sources:

Bennett DH, Sellen J, Moran R, et al. Personal air sampling for pesticides in the California San Joaquin Valley. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 10 September 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00708-4.
Howard L. Residents in San Joaquin Valley breathe chemical pesticides, according to new study. UCDavis Health. https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/residents-in-san-joaquin-valley-breathe-chemical-pesticides-according-to-new-study/2024/09.