- Link:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10161/3540
- Collection:
-
- Subjects
- pesticide exposure cholinesterase monitoring farmworker health North Carolina agricultural health and safety
- Creator:
- Perkins, Jennifer
- Contributor:
- Cook, Philip
- Publisher
- The Sanford School of Public Policy
- Type
- Masters' project
- Language
- en_US
- Description
- i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Client Toxic Free NC is a
501(c)3 non-profit. Toxic Free NC works specifically on pesticide
pollution, and although it focuses on North Carolina, it looks at
pesticide use around the world. Toxic Free NC advocates for
pesticide alternatives and for proper use of pesticides to avoid
environmental contamination and exposure. Based on the conclusions
of the Master’s Project, Toxic Free NC may advocate for legislation
at the state level. Policy Question Should North Carolina adopt a
cholinesterase-monitoring program to monitor and prevent pesticide
exposure among farmworkers and their families? Overview Pesticide
exposure among farmworkers and their families may present a serious
problem in the State of North Carolina. Currently, California and
Washington State stand alone in their use of cholinesterase
monitoring to monitor pesticide exposure. These states test
pesticide handlers. This project assesses the utility of such a
program in North Carolina and evaluates other policy options for
reducing pesticide exposure among the state’s farmworker
population. Problem Summary Organophosphate pesticides are not only
widely used but are also responsible for a number of cases of
exposure. Exposure to organophosphate pesticides can result in
depressed acetylcholinesterase (cholinesterase) levels.
Cholinesterase is an enzyme necessary for proper nerve functioning.
Depressed cholinesterase levels are considered a sign of
over-exposure to pesticides and are also considered a problem in
and of themselves. Although chronic pesticide exposure can cause
severe health problems, including cancer, birth defects,
neurological problems, and other concerns, little is known about
the level of chronic pesticide exposure in one of the most exposed
groups. Pesticide handlers, non-handler farmworkers, and their
families are exposed to pesticides on a routine basis. However, the
exact level of this exposure, or even reliable estimates of such
exposure, is unknown. The problem may be particularly severe among
the children of farmworkers, who may be exposed both in residue
brought home by the farmworker and by being in contact with the
crops themselves. The Worker Protection Standard, a federal law,
has not been significantly modified since 1992. It does not include
any provisions or guidance for children under the age of 12,
despite the fact that younger children may accompany their parents
in farmwork. The cholinesterase monitoring programs that do exist
do not collect data that would indicate the exposure among
children. Additionally, since they measure cholinesterase levels
only for those pesticide handlers who have worked with pesticides
for 30 or more hours in the past 30 days, their data cannot be used
to estimate a dose-response relationship of pesticide exposure and
cholinesterase depression. Moreover, the State of North Carolina
does not have spare funding in the current economic and political
climate. Any actions taken by the client, at least for the
immediate future, will need to rely on alternate sources of
funding. Goals Used to Evaluate Options The policy options outlined
below will be evaluated based on their ability to meet each of
these four goals. • Collect data on the size and scope of the
problem. • Create an early intervention system. • Improve
compliance with Worker Protection Standard. • Reduce pesticide
exposure among pesticide handlers, farmworkers, and their families.
Recommendation 1. Measure pesticide exposure among pesticide
handlers, farmworkers, and non- handler/farmworker family members
by use of a survey conducted in cooperation with an academic
institution. Recommendations Contingent on Supportive Data from
Recommendation 1 2. Modify the Worker Protection Standard. 3.
Institute an education program for state government agency (Health
and Human Services and Agriculture) personnel as well as medical
practitioners serving the agricultural community. 4. Implement a
cholinesterase-monitoring program. 5. Hire more compliance
inspectors and increase the number of compliance visits. Conclusion
Particularly in North Carolina, where the farmworker population is
reasonably large and agriculture is an important industry, it is
vital that the size and scope of any pesticide exposure issue be
scientifically documented. Once the size and scope is established,
action can be taken to reduce pesticide exposure as
needed.
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