07/22/05 Cholinesterase testing updaste

Farm and Ranch July 22, 2005 Significantly fewer farm workers involved in a state blood testing program were showing drops in Cholinesterase levels this year compared to 2004 according to test results this spring. A drop in the blood level of the enzyme can indicate exposure to certain types of pesticides. Jim Jesernig is on the Department of Labor and Industries stakeholders committee for cholinesterase monitoring. Jesernig: "Last year you had roughly 30% of the employees that had follow up tests show a depression either at 20% below their baseline or 40% below their baseline. This year you are looking at about eight percent. So there has been a decrease. People aren't sure if that is because the lab doing the testing is doing a better job or some safety concerns have been worked, or both." Last year there were no depressed levels in people that worked just in the potato industry. Jesernig: "And if again it indicates that there is not a problem in the potato industry, and other industries as well whether it is asparagus, hops or others, there are going to be a large group of agricultural commodities saying that this regulation shouldn't apply to us." Jesernig says it will probably be in the August or September time frame when that kind of detail will be known. L&I will be reviewing its rule on cholinesterase monitoring this winter. That' the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.