The Sentinal Event Notification of System Occupational Risk (SENSOR) Pesticide Poisoning Prevention Project is conducted by the California Department of Health Services through the support of NIOSH and US EPA. On May 21, 1999, SENSOR was notified that an elementary school in Santa Barbara County had been evacuated due to odor from an application of metam-sodium. SENSOR staff conducted an on-site investigation in the community where the incident occurred on June 16-17. Over a six-day period, metam-sodium was used to fumigate two fields (175 total acres) in preparation for planting carrots. The application process involved pumping undiluted metam-sodium from a tank via a closed system into an irrigation system, where it was mixed with water and pumped through sprinklers up into the air and onto the field. Based on evidence of exposure reported by workers, and the occurrence of symptoms consistent with metam-sodium toxicity, exposure to pesticide drift resulted in at least three possible and one suspicious case of pesticide-related illness among school and other workers in the community. In California, to minimize off-site movement of odors when applying metam-sodium, applicators are required to adhere to buffer zones, and monitor the site for the presence or absence of odor, air and soil temperature, and wind conditions. This presentation will summarize the findings of this investigation and evaluate the efficacy of these requirements in preventing worker and community pesticide exposure during metam-sodium applications. Recommendations for the prevention of pesticide illness will be made.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to:1. Describe risk factors that contribute to worker and community exposure to pesticides; 2. Evaluate the efficacy of control measures required to prevent worker and community exposure to pesticides; 3. List recommendations to prevent pesticide-related illness among community members and workers.
Keywords: Pesticides, Occupational Exposure
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.