Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108095

Mary Miller, MN, RN, Employment Standards, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44510, Olympia, WA 98504-4510, 360.902.6041, MMAR235@LNI.WA.GOV, Matthew Keifer, MD, MPH, Dep Env & Occ Hlth Sciences and Int Scholars Occ Env Hlth, University of Washington, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7234, and Richard A. Fenske, PhD, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357234, Seattle, WA 98195.

Cholinesterase (ChE) monitoring is the most common method of determining whether workers have been overexposed to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides. Until recently, California was the only state requiring the monitoring of workers who handle these acutely toxic pesticides. Since the early 1990's, Washington state's Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) had a non-mandatory recommendation for cholinesterase monitoring modeled on the California program. In 1994, L&I created a technical advisory group (TAG) to assess the benefits and practicality of mandating ChE monitoring statewide. This TAG reviewed the California program, the existing scientific literature, and data specific to Washington State. In its report, the group recommended ChE monitoring for all occupations in which Class I or II organophosphate or carbamate pesticides are handled. The conclusions in the TAG report played a critical role in the 2002 Supreme Court decision in Washington State, directing L&I's state OSHA plan (WISHA) to initiate rulemaking to require employers to provide ChE testing to agricultural pesticide handlers. The role of science and its influence on policy and regulation have important implications for other areas of public health. This process will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Understand the scientific basis for cholinesterase monitoring and its limitations.
• 2.Identify elements important to a successful medical monitoring program
• 3.Recognize the importance of the scientific process in establishing public health policy and regulations.

Keywords: Pesticide Exposure, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation