02/15/05 Cholinesterase monitoring testing, Pt.2

One of the reasons many in the Washington State tree fruit industry are concerned about the Department of Labor and Industries expansion of its cholinesterase monitoring program is the inconsistent data that was obtained during the program's first year. Kirk Mayer of the Washington Growers Clearing House says when L and I decreased the number of threshold hours farm employees handle pesticides must be tested, from a minimum fifty hours per thirty day period to a minimum of thirty hours in that same time period, it may have done based on findings of a report on the first year of the program that Mayer said were not as complete as hoped. MAYER: And actually, it was determined that approximately of the thirty-three per cent of the depressions were actually not depressions. We also found the r.b.c. cholinesterase portion of the test was inconsistent and not valid for indicating exposure. And so the agricultural industry coalition requested that the program thresholds remain the same that the recommendations of the scientific advisory committee be incorporated into the program so hopefully we would be able to develop more accurate data at the conclusion of the second year. Mayer adds another possible reason for the report findings may be those workers with depressed cholinesterase levels may have not washed their hands, face, and neck thoroughly consistently after removing part or all of their equipment exposed to pesticide.