A recent report released by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), the 2023 Air Monitoring Report, found that pesticide concentrations in high-use areas across California remained well below health-protective levels.
The report evaluated 40 pesticides and conducted over 8,000 analyses throughout the year. The results are reassuring: 95% of the air samples showed no detectable pesticide levels, while those detected were well within safe regulatory margins.
One of the report’s findings that may be of great interest to the public was its analysis of fumigant use and detections. Even in the case of this more controversial class of products, monitoring results demonstrated that all results were within DPR’s ultra-conservative and protective health screening levels. These results show that current regulatory measures are successfully mitigating potential exposure risks.
These findings highlight the effectiveness of WPH members’ extensive training and collaboration with DPR in achieving these positive outcomes in compliance with State and local regulations.
A Milestone for Safe Agricultural Practices
These results are no surprise to the Western Plant Health Association, whose members have long prioritized safety and sustainability. The association’s President/CEO, Renee Pinel, emphasized the significance of these findings in a recent statement:
“This report reaffirms that the collaborative efforts between California’s agricultural community and DPR yield positive results. Our farmers work tirelessly to ensure the safety and protection of our food supply and our communities. The fact that no results exceeded health-protective levels shows that California farmers continue to lead the nation in safe pesticide use.”
For Western Plant Health, these findings are not just an affirmation of the work being done but also a motivation to continue improving. “We are constantly working to ensure California’s agriculture system thrives while keeping our communities safe,” Pinel added. With DPR’s ongoing commitment to monitoring and WPH’s efforts to ensure compliance and safety, California’s agricultural future looks bright, productive, and sustainable.DPR Report Shows No Harmful Pesticide Levels in Air Samples
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