‘Ensure vital public health protections are in place’

Federal officials say they will analyze the harmful effects of pesticide spray drift earlier in their investigation process, reducing health risks to farm workers and nearby residents.

Accordingly Oregon Public BroadcastingThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews all pesticides for spray drift effects, but usually only after they are approved for use. These critical reviews can often take up to 15 years to process.

The new policy mandates that EPA analyze human health risks associated with pesticide spray drift during the initial registration process. The review occurs when a producer identifies new crops or different uses of a pesticide.

In the past, large numbers of people have been affected by pesticide spray drift, and the EPA’s goal is to minimize those affected by risks flagged before approval, not 15 years later.

“We see our regulatory agency acknowledging that drift is happening, that it’s happening very often, and that it’s happening in many scenarios,” Lisa Arkin, executive director of the Oregon nonprofit Beyond Toxics, said, according to OPB. “And of course, those most affected are those involved in agriculture and timber production and those who live nearby.”

Depending on the type of pesticide used, there may be any number of health problems including eye irritation, wheezing, and rashes caused by spray drift. Strong winds and other weather conditions may cause chemicals to be carried and come into contact with people and the environment.

In 2013, people in Curry County, Oregon, said spray drift was what was making them sick. Other reports suggest that pesticide spray was poisoning aquatic life in nearby streams.

The new EPA policy will ensure that farm workers and citizens are not exposed to toxic substances from pesticide chemicals and that wildlife in the area remains safe as well.

Other recent EPA efforts have had a nationwide impact. The agency has helped forest fire improvement Hawaiidebasement toxic pollution from steel mills and work for safer storage coal ash.

“Our new policy will ensure that vital public health protections are in place when a pesticide is first approved, so people won’t have to wait years for the protections they deserve and need,” Michal Freedhoff, associate administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said in a statement.

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