Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33722241›Full record

ArticleEnvironmental health : a global access science source2021

Examining the role of wind in human illness due to pesticide drift in Washington state, 2000-2015.

Edward J Kasner, Joanne B Prado, Michael G Yost, Richard A Fenske

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Environmental health : a global access science source, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Edward J KasnerDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA. ejkasner@uw.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-1077-5286
Joanne B PradoWashington State Department of Health, Tumwater, WA, USA.
Michael G YostDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
Richard A FenskeDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.

Funding

Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center-RenewalU54OH007544 · OH · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI YOST, MICHAEL G · 2011 to 2025
$23.0M
NIOSH CDC HHS U54 OH007544
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPesticides play an important role in protecting the food supply and the public's health from pests and diseases. By their nature, pesticides can be toxic to unintended target organisms. Changing winds contribute to pesticide drift- the off-target movement of pesticides-and can result in occupational and bystander illness.

methodsWe systematically linked historical weather data to documented pesticide drift illnesses. We used Washington State Department of Health data to identify 252 drift events that included 690 confirmed cases of illness from 2000 to 2015. To characterize wind speed and direction at the time of the events, we paired these data with meteorological data from a network of 171 state weather stations. We report descriptive statistics and the spatio-temporal extent of drift events and compare applicator-reported weather conditions to those from nearby meteorological stations.

resultsMost drift events occurred in tree fruit (151/252 = 60%). Ground spraying and aerial applications accounted for 68% and 23% of events, respectively; 69% of confirmed cases were workers, and 31% were bystanders. Confirmed cases were highest in 2014 (129) from 22 events. Complete applicator spray records were available for 57 drift events (23%). Average applicator-reported wind speeds were about 0.9 m •sec

conclusionsDrift events result from a complex array of factors in the agricultural setting. We used known spatio-temporal aspects of drift and historical weather data to characterize these events, but additional research is needed to put our findings into practice. Particularly critical for this analysis is more accurate and complete information about location, time, wind speed, and wind direction. Our findings can be incorporated into new training materials to improve the practice of pesticide application and for better documentation of spray drift events. A precision agriculture approach offers technological solutions that simplify the task of tracking pesticide spraying and weather conditions. Public health investigators will benefit from improved meteorological data and accurate application records. Growers, applicators, and surrounding communities will also benefit from the explanatory and predictive potential of wind ramping studies.

Indexed as

WindAgricultureAir PollutantsEnvironmental ExposureHumansPesticidesWashingtonAir PollutantsPesticidesAcute pesticide-related illnessApplication exclusion zoneDriftMeteorologyPesticide sprayingWind ramping

Identifiers

PMID33722241
PMCPMC7958705

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.