'In 2005, the California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch (OHB) investigated an incident of pesticide exposure and identified 27 vineyard workers who became in due to drift of cyfluthrin, a pesticide being applied to a neighboring orange field to control katydids. Another pest, citrus thrips, was also present in the field,' investigators in the United States report (see also Public Health).
'We investigated safer alternatives for katydid and thrips control to prevent illness due to pesticide exposure and used the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls to prioritize the control methods. OHB evaluated factors that contributed to pesticide exposure and identified safer alternatives by conducting literature reviews on katydid and thrips control, drift prevention technology, and other relevant topics, and by interviewing integrated pest management advisors, conventional and organic growers, equipment manufacturers, county agricultural commissioners, pest control advisors, regulatory agencies, and others. We prioritized methods using the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls,' wrote J.L. Weinberg and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: 'We identified safer pest control practices that incorporated hazard elimination, chemical substitution, engineering controls, and administrative controls, including employer policies and government regulations..'
Weinberg and colleagues published their study in Public Health Reports (Application of the Industrial Hygiene Hierarchy of Controls to Prioritize and Promote Safer Methods of Pest Control: A Case Study. Public Health Reports, 2009;124(Suppl. 1):53-62).
For additional information, contact R. Das, California Dept. of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Occupational Pesticide Illness Prevention Program, 850 Marina Bay Pkwy, Bldg P, 3rd Floor, Richmond, CA 94804, USA.
The publisher of the journal Public Health Reports can be contacted at: Association Schools Public Health, 1101 15TH St. NW, Ste. 910, Washington, DC 20005, USA.
Keywords: United States, Richmond, Hygiene, Occupational Health, Public Health.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
