14
Aug
California Pesticide Regulators Release Free App to Report Pesticide Incidents
(Beyond Pesticides, August 14, 2019) Earlier this summer, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) released a free app to facilitate the reporting of pesticide incidents in the state. The app, CASPIR (California’s System for Pesticide Incident Reporting), is available for download on the Google Play or Apple iTunes app store and should work with most smart phone devices. While improving pesticide incident reporting is a laudable accomplishment for CDPR, advocates argue that further action by elected and administrative officials is needed to reduce and eliminate toxic pesticide use so that these systems are not necessary.
CDPR has been increasingly criticized by environmental justice organizations for its response to pesticide incidents, particularly in at-risk and low-income communities, and this app appears to be a response by the agency to address these concerns. The app is bilingual, provides the ability for users to add photos and videos, and records the GPS location of the user. Nayamin Martinex, director of the Central California Environmental Justice Network, said in a press release, “We have seen that farmworkers, who are trying to report a pesticide incident at work, sometimes have difficulty describing the exact location of the fields. We are glad that CASPIR can help address this issue with its GPS system.”
Although continuous improvement is always needed, California is ahead of the vast majority of states in its establishment of publicly available pesticide use and incident reporting databases.
Beyond Pesticides receives dozens of calls each year from individuals who have been poisoned by pesticide use and are looking for resources to assist them. Many are unaware who to report these incidents to, or whether they can even report them at all (incidents should be reported to the state pesticide enforcement agency and EPA). It is critical to gather information about pesticide incidents in real-time or as soon as possible after spraying has occurred, but these are often times individuals are most distraught, and focused on seeking care rather than recording information. Apps like CASPIR can assist individuals in recording pertinent information quickly.
While reporting pesticide poisoning incidents is critical, resources for those affected are limited. Many doctors are unaware of the comprehensive manual, “Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings,” and treatment of chronic conditions and other complications from pesticide poisoning, such as multiple chemical sensitivity or toxicicant induced loss of tolerance remain at the margins of medical research.
The most effective method of preventing pesticide poisoning remains the elimination of their use in the first place. Organic practices, whether in agriculture or around the home, promote a path that prevents the use of toxic pesticides by working with, rather than against nature. By moving more and more towards organic technologies, we can stop the rampant poisoning of farmworkers, their communities, and the public at large.
Whether in California or any other state in the country, if you’re involved in a pesticide incident, follow the steps on Beyond Pesticides webpage “What to do in a Pesticide Emergency.” If you’re having trouble, contact the organization at [email protected] or 202-543-5450.
Despite living in the modern-day United States, farmworkers have the same life expectancy as individuals living in the 1850s—just 49 years old. Learn more about the impact of pesticide-intensive farming practices on the individuals that grow our food, and make up the backbone of our country’s agricultural economy by watching the Farmworkers, Families and Health panel discussion from Beyond Pesticides’ National Pesticide Forum in Irvine, CA. Further information can also be found on the Agricultural Justice webpage.
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
