Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 102, Number 12, December 1994

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Evaluating Health Risks from Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and the Regulatory Response

Tracey J. Woodruff,¹ Amy D. Kyle,² and Frédéric Y. Bois²

¹Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94109 USA
²School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA

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Abstract
In this study, we used measurements of occupational exposures to pesticides in agriculture to evaluate health risks and analyzed how the federal regulatory program is addressing these risks. Dose estimates developed by the State of California from measured occupational exposures to 41 pesticides were compared to standard indices of acute toxicity (LD₅₀) and chronic effects (reference dose). Lifetime cancer risks were estimated using cancer potencies. Estimated absorbed daily doses for mixers, loaders, and applicators of pesticides ranged from less than 0.0001% to 48% of the estimated human LD₅₀ values, and doses for 10 of 40 pesticides exceeded 1% of the estimated human LD₅₀ values. Estimated lifetime absorbed daily doses ranged from 0.1% to 114,000% of the reference doses developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and doses for 13 of 25 pesticides were above them. Lifetime cancer risks ranged from 1 per million to 1700 per million, and estimates for 12 of 13 pesticides were above 1 per million. Similar results were obtained for field workers and flaggers. For the pesticides examined, exposures pose greater risks of chronic effects than acute effects. Exposure reduction measures, including use of closed mixing systems and personal protective equipment, significantly reduced exposures. Proposed regulations rely primarily on requirements for personal protective equipment and use restrictions to protect workers. Chronic health risks are not considered in setting these requirements. Reviews of pesticides by the federal pesticide regulatory program have had little effect on occupational risks. Policy strategies that offer immediate protection for workers and that are not dependent on extensive review of individual pesticides should be pursued. Key words: agricultural workers, agriculture-associated diseases, environmental policy, lethal dose 50, pesticides, risk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environ Health Perspect 102:1088-1096 (1994)

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/102-12/woodruff.html

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Address correspondence to T.J. Woodruff, Environmental Protection Agency, MS 2126, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460 USA.

The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and they do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This work was conducted while T.J.W. was funded by the Pew Charitable Trust at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California-San Francisco. The Switzer Foundation provided support for A.D.K.'s work on this project. The Environmental Health Sciences Division and the Environmental Health Policy Program of the School of Public Health at the University of California-Berkeley provided administrative support.

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