State regulators take a closer look at controversial pesticide

UPDATE 7/31/2018 5:30 p.m.: The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is cracking down on a controversial chemical used in a lot of California crops.

Chlorpyrifos is a granular pesticide used to kill bugs that attack grape, orange, walnut, almond, alfalfa and cotton crops. Many have long believed it’s responsible for harming people, especially children.

“The UC Berkeley CHAMACOS study has specifically studies families, women and children in the Salinas Valley for 20 years now and their conclusions are: Exposure to chlorpyrifos is linked to higher incidents of learning disabilities, ADHD, lower IQ and of decreased lung function,” said Mark Weller, co-director of Californians for Pesticide Reform.

Researchers with the DPR looked at years of studies about the pesticide and decided it should be added to the Toxic Air Contaminant list. Other such chemicals on the list include formaldehyde, chloroform and diesel fuel.

This week an independent Scientist Review Panel agreed with the findings.

“We want to see about getting more restrictions in place if warranted because we believe this pesticide can cause or contribute to serious illness or death in some cases,” said Charlotte Fadipe, assistant director at the Department of Pesticide Regulation. “So we have to see if our protections are adequate and if not, we need to put more restrictions in place.”

Some general restrictions could include how much of the chemical can be used in one application, the weather conditions for usage and possibly creating bigger buffer zones.

Usage of chlorpyrifos has been falling because of modern technology that’s kinder to people. Monterey County used 3,000 pounds of it last year, while Santa Cruz County only used 159 pounds. Other counties have used upwards of 200,000 pounds.

But for some, that’s still too much.

“I think that the obvious answer right now is that it must be suspended during the rest of the review process and the only possible answer given their study from yesterday is that it must be banned,” Weller said.

DPR is going to start consulting with air pollution agencies to get their take, then gather public comment.

“Then we start looking at how we can start reducing exposure levels, we’ll talk to more scientists and see if there’s more stuff we need to do,” Fadipe said. “If, as we suspect, we do need to put more restrictions in place, we are going to work as hard as we can to get something in place hopefully by the end of the year.”

ORIGINAL POST: The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is taking a closer look at a chemical used in different kinds of crops, including here on the Central Coast.

Chlorpyrifos is generally used to kill pests that attack grape, orange, almond, walnut and alfalfa crops.

Researchers with the DPR looked at years of studies about that pesticide and decided it should be added to the “toxic air contaminant” list. Monday, an independent panel agreed with the findings.

Now the DPR is going to start consulting with air pollution agencies to find out if restrictions need to be tightened and public comment is needed.

Chlorpyrifos use has been falling everywhere because of modern chemistry. In fact, growers in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties don’t use as much as other areas throughout the state.

“Santa Cruz used about 159 pounds in 2016. You guys used about 3,000 lbs whereas some other counties are using something like 200,000 pounds,” said Assistant Director Charlotte Fadipe with the Dept. of Pesticide Regulation.

Californians for Pesticide Reform wants the state to suspend all usage and eventually ban the chemical saying it can damage kids’ brains and cause lung damage.

If the department of pesticide regulation does come out with new recommendations on Chlorpyrifos usage, it’ll be towards the end of the year.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have the full story at 6 p.m.