January 27, 1999
Pesticides and Smog in California
Pesticides used in California fields can cause smog in
agricultural regions of the state, according to a report released
recently by the Environmental Working Group and Californians for
Pesticide Reform. After application, pesticides give off large
quantities of reactive organic gases (ROGs, also known as volatile
organic compounds) which contribute to formation of smog and which
can also cause cancer, birth defects, nerve damage and kidney and
heart disease. Approximately 98.9 million pounds of ROGs are
emitted from pesticides each year in California -- nearly four
times the total ROG emissions from petroleum refining, and more
than double the ROG emissions from all other industrial sources.
For hours and even days after application, pesticide formulations
can evaporate from the soil and vegetation, emitting more
chemicals into the air and possibly leading to continued exposure
for farmworkers and nearby residents. These evaporating chemicals
can include the active ingredients, chemical products of the
breakdown of those ingredients and chemical additives -- so-called
"inert ingredients." Some pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos and
methyl bromide, are so volatile they are considered ROGs.
In California's San Joaquin Valley, pesticides and fertilizers
emit an estimated 34 million pounds of ROGs a year, more than 13%
of the region's total ROG emissions. In Ventura Country, estimated
pesticide and fertilizer ROGs are about 2.1 million pounds a year,
or 5.6% of the total. In each of these areas, the primary ROG
contributor is methyl bromide, which has a potential emissions
rate that can be as high as 100%, depending on the brand used.
Because they contribute to formation of smog, ROG emissions are
regulated under the U.S. Clean Air Act. To comply with the law,
the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has
established a ROG emissions potential factor for every pesticide
registered for use in California. This rating gives the percentage
of the chemical that either is or will potentially become airborne
ROGs after the pesticide is applied.
As part of the Clean Air Act, each state is required to develop an
implementation plan that includes regulations to control ROG
emissions. The plan developed by the California DPR has several
faults. For example, DPR's plan does not promote pesticide use
reduction as a primary means of reducing emissions. It allows for
reductions to be achieved by changing chemical formulations of
pesticides or by using a DPR-developed protocol for recalculating
emissions factors the agency says will "virtually always" yield a
lower emissions factor. In addition, the baseline for the plan was
developed by surveying growers who estimated emissions rates of
pesticides they used, rather than using data generated by air
testing or computer modeling of emissions.
"What You Don't Know Could Hurt You: Pesticides in California's
Air" also reports on two years of EWG's air monitoring in counties
around the state. Almost two-thirds of the samples contained
pesticides known to cause cancer, brain damage, birth defects,
acute poisoning or other negative health effects.
The complete report is available online at www.ewg.org. Copies of
the report may be ordered from the EWG, 1718 Connecticut Ave NW,
Suite 600, Washington DC 20009; phone (202) 667-6982; fax (202)
232-2592; email info@ewg.org for US$20 plus US$3 shipping.
Source/contact: Environmental Working Group California, P.O. Box
29201, The Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129; phone (415) 561-
6698; fax (415) 561-6696; email bwalker@ewg.org.
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