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Barbara Morrissey
Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center
Washington State Department of Health
Pesticide Program
1-888-586-9427
Always working for a safer and healthier Washington
DOH, Pesticide Program
DOH compared to enforcement agencies
*Pesticide cases investigated as reported in the 2003 WA annual PIRT report
*cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly due to pesticide exposure
Causal relationship must be plausible:
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Signs and symptoms documented during investigation are consistent with the known toxicology of the pesticide(s) involved.
- The time of symptom onset and pattern must be plausible for the exposure documented.
Definite |
+ objective evidence of exposure |
+ objective clinical evidence of health effect |
Probable
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1 |
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2 |
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Possible |
Report by case, witnesses, spray records |
Two or more symptoms reported by HCP or case |
*cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly due to pesticide exposure
*cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly due to pesticide exposure
*cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly due to pesticide exposure
*cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly due to pesticide exposure
** Handler = mix, load, or apply, repair spray equipment
*cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly due to pesticide exposure
- Target prevention in apples, potatoes
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Handlers – eye protection, other PPE
- Drift reduction to protect field workers/bystanders
- More attention to field residue exposure (are re-entry intervals followed, protective?)
Photo: Doug Wilson, ARS photo gallery
- 24 y/o male
- Licensed applicator
- October chemigation for potatoes
- Shift is from 5PM to 4 AM
- Checks application every 2 hours
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Metam sodium (Sectagon 42)
(Forms MITC in soil, fumigant)
- Possible replacement for methyl bromide
- Known irritant to eyes, respiratory, skin
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Full PPE (respirator and suit) while in field
- In his pick-up truck 100 ft from field when
he wasn't checking the field (no PPE)
- Fell asleep in truck after shift (4 AM)
- Awoke at 10 AM - strong smell in truck
- Temperature inversion
Initial symptoms
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Burning in lungs and throat
- Chest tightness
- Went to ER, same day
- Chest X-ray: negative
Medical follow-up
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Recheck at 7 days
- Dx. Exposure to inhaled irritant/mild bronchospasm
- Prescribed inhaler
- DOH followed -
8 wks
- c/o Burning in lungs
- c/o Shortness of breath
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Classified “Possible”
- DOH provided case description to EPA during metam sodium re-registration .
- Letters of support for research into drift reduction and alternatives to chemigation for potato field fumigation
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 06/2006
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