Salinas Valley community calls on Agricultural Commissioner for better protections from health-harming pesticides

Community members from all over the Salinas Valley will assemble in Greenfield on Sunday, June 10 to share their concerns over the weak state- and county-wide protections from pesticide exposure, especially for farmworkers, pregnant women and children. Speakers will address the health threats posed by pesticide exposure and the challenges they have faced, calling for the attention of the County Agricultural Commissioner who has so far denied requests to meet with him.

Recently released data show that health-harming pesticide use near schools is not decreasing. In fact, brain-harming chlorpyrifos use around Vista Verde and Greenfield High School accounted for over one-third of county’s total use in 2016. Chlorpyrifos use is anticipated to continue into the 2018-2019 school year according to growers’ annual notifications submitted to the County Agricultural Commissioner’s office and obtained by a Public Record Request.

After the rally, community members can visit informational tables hosted by various local and state-wide resources to learn about the types of pesticides applied nearby, how and why to report pesticide exposure, why we should protect children and pregnant women, and how to receive resources if their children have special needs or disabilities. Kid-friendly activities will also be available.


Brain- and lung-harming chlorpyrifos in Monterey County


Recent science points overwhelmingly to the potential hazard of chronic chlorpyrifos exposure to pregnant women and children:

* A UC Davis study found for every 100 pounds of chlorpyrifos applied within approximately 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) of a pregnant woman, her chances of having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder increased by 14%.[1] In other words, 200 pounds of chlorpyrifos would increase the chances by 28%; 300 pounds by 42%, etc.

* The UC Berkeley CHAMACOS study looked at chemical exposures in a cohort of pregnant women and their children from the Salinas Valley. This study found associations between prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure and negative impacts on brain development.[2]

* Greenfield High School had the fourth most chlorpyrifos applied near it in the entire state.

* Greenfield schools continue to be near high chlorpyrifos use, with use near the high school and middle school accounting for over 1/3 of the county’s total use in 2016.

* The US EPA found chlorpyrifos in the air in Salinas at three times the target risk level (US EPA 2016 Chlorpyrifos Revised Human Health Risk Assessment for Registration Review, Table 9.1: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0653-0454)

* While decreasing in recent years, overall chlorpyrifos use remains at alarming levels

[1] Shelton JF, Geraghty EM, Tancredi DJ, Delwiche LD, Schmidt RJ, Ritz B, Hansen RL, and Hertz-Picciotto I. “Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides: The CHARGE Study” Environmental Health Perspectives 122:1103–1109 (2014); doi:10.1289/ehp.1307044]

[2] Gunier RB, Bradman A, Harley KG, Kogut K, and Eskenazi B. “Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticide Use and IQ in 7-Year-Old Children.” Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/EHP504


WHAT: Rally and resource fair for pesticide literacy and safety, focusing on protecting farmworkers, pregnant women and children

WHERE: Village Green Park, 98 S El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA 93927

WHEN: Sunday June 10, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

WHO: Speakers include:

* Yanely Martinez, Greenfield City Councilwoman
* Victor Torres, Student at Vista Verde Middle School
* Kathleen Kilpatrick, Retired School Nurse
* Erika Arreola, CSUMB Student and Resident of Soledad

SPANISH: Spanish speakers will be available for interview

VISUALS: Banners, signs, large assembled crowd, informational tables