Dear Jon: Latest pesticide air quality report called ‘bitter sweet’

The use of pesticides in the Salinas valley is a normal part of agriculture operations. But how much of those substances end up in the air is of prime concern for all of us. The latest data provides an answer to Tyrone’s question, “Dear Jon, Is it true that the air in the Salinas valley is high in pesticides?”

The State Department of Pesticide Regulation has been testing the general air quality in the Salinas valley for the last three years. I reported on the 2012 data last summer and for that year, researchers found that there were no health concerns. But the 2013 report is slightly more concerning.

The Monterey County AG Commissioner’s office calls this year’s DPR monitoring results ‘bitter sweet.’ The reason? Chloropicrin was found to be above the DPR screening level.

Screening levels were determined after the DPR consulted with various health based agencies to come up with a base line to measure. The base line is not health related according to Bob Roach, Assistant Agriculture Commissioner for Monterey County. “So we have the screening levels which are a more of a general guide when we need to look at something closer and we have the regulatory targets that are based on more exacting science,” says Roach. Prior to doing these studies there were no such base lines determined for air quality measurements.

The ‘Fumigation Team’ at the commissioner’s office works up a plan for specific applications and provides the permits to regulate the use of fumigants in the county.

When I asked Roach about the Salinas airport as a location for air quality sampling he approved of the site, “The air flow comes off the bay and travels down the valley right over the airport making this an ideal site.”

The DPR study monitors 32 pesticides and 5 break out substances in the valley, Roach says having the data is critical. “We want to know, is the regulatory program working or not? And it’s indicated that most the time we’re seeing very low levels. But with a couple of particular materials we exceeded our screening levels.”

Those materials are Chloropicrin and 1-3 Dichloropropene, both used in the production of Monterey County’s number one cash crop, strawberries.

So for Roach, “It’s a little bitter sweet, but for the most part it’s gratifying, then there’s that one percent that says, no, you need to reevaluate with some of these fumigants.”

In 93 percent of the cases researchers could not detect any anomalies. Meaning they could not find even a trace in the air at all. But says Roach, “In the remaining 7 percent, in about half of the readings there was a trace but there was not enough to quantify and the rest they could come up with some quantity.” And for most of the results they could quantify, they were less than one percent of the screening level.

So in a vast majority of the 32 materials and 5 break out substances there are no air quality health concerns. For 2013 they were found to be below the screening and regulatory levels.

So is this finding with Chloropicrin and 1-3 D a concern? “So yes that is a concern, Chloropicrin has been under review by the DPR for a while,” says Roach.

And for good reason.

This air quality study is more about general air quality around the Salinas area. But when it comes to specific application sites near schools or residential subdivisions, that’s a different story. Roach says his team works hard to regulate the use of Chloropicrin.

I asked Roach, how can they use these poisons so close to schools? Roach says, “Because the application meets the regulatory criteria.”

The grower has to meet the regulations and Roach’s office enforces that. The key to sensitive application sites is good communication according to Roach, “I hope they appreciate what everyone’s doing to keep them safe. And when there’s good communication between the grower and the school that serves to prevent problems from happening in the first place.”

During the fumigation season which is September/October air quality issues could spike in specific locations. But Roach’s team works hard to minimize concerns through strict regulatory plans.

For general air quality though, the data says we shouldn’t be concerned.

The DPR is getting ready to come out with further regulatory mandates on Chloropicrin. What that specifically entails is yet to be seen but Roach says what’s on the table is further restrictions that the AG Commissioner’s office will regulate.

If you have a question for me, email me at DearJon@KIONRightNow.com. Or connect with me on Facebook ‘Jon K Brent KION” or Twitter @DearJonKBrent.