The California Department of Pesticide Regulation today released its annual Air Monitoring Report, which found that no air samples taken at monitoring sites in 2023 detected pesticides at or above health-protective screening levels or regulatory targets.
DPR operates four monitoring stations in areas with high pesticide use: Oxnard, Santa Maria, Shafter and Watsonville. The stations collect weekly air samples, which are tested for 40 pesticides.
The 2023 data found that 95% of all samples analyses had no detectable pesticides. Twenty-one pesticides were not detected at all, and 11 were detected at very low, trace levels which indicates unlikely risk to or impact on people's health.
Seven pesticides were detected at quantifiable levels, with detections falling below health-protective screening levels or regulatory targets. Those pesticides were 1,3-dichloropropene, captan, dichlorvos (DDVP), methyl isothiocyanate (MITC), malathion, methyl bromide and pendimethalin.
DPR is evaluating concentrations of one pesticide, chloropicrin, which peaked at just below the health screening level (7% below) to inform any necessary future action.
Screening levels are developed by DPR scientists through scientific evaluation to conservatively estimate when a pesticide air concentration may have any impact on human health. DPR measures air against screening levels and regulatory targets. Regulatory targets are screening levels associated with a regulatory requirement to mitigate pesticide risks or impacts. A pesticide detection below a specific screening level or regulatory target indicates that adverse health effects are unlikely, including short-term (acute) pesticide impacts, such as eye or throat irritation, nausea, headaches or blurred vision, or long-term (chronic) pesticide risks such as birth defects or nervous system problems. DPR also measures for exposures that could increase the lifetime risk for cancer.
Pesticide concentrations measuring near and above a screening level are evaluated by DPR to examine what conditions may have caused the elevated reading or to inform any future mitigation that may be needed to protect the health of people in high pesticide use areas and throughout California. Specifically for chloropicrin, DPR is conducting a detailed evaluation of pesticide use data and historical weather patterns, in addition to modeling and additional monitoring to better understand potential sources and exposures in the area. DPR plans to release its analysis specific to chloropicrin detection in 2025.
Air monitoring is an important element of DPR's continuous evaluation process, which includes tracking, monitoring, and evaluating the risk and impact of legal pesticide use in California to inform any actions or mitigation measures needed to continue to protect people and the environment.
For more information:
Leia Bailey
Department of Pesticide Regulation
Tel: +1 (916) 445-3974
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cdpr.ca.gov