HDOH Pesticide Studies and Coordination with Other Agencies

 

Subsampling stream sediment for chemical analysis

Given the increased community concerns about pesticide drift on Kauaʻi and elsewhere, the HEER Office is providing documents and links addressing various aspects of pesticide use in Hawaiʻi.

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RESULTS OF STATEWIDE PESTICIDE SAMPLING PILOT PROJECT

In partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the U.S. Geological Survey, DOH measured pesticides in surface water and sediment at multiple locations in Hawaiʻi. Information about the findings can be found by following the link below.

INVESTIGATING DATA GAPS FOR ATRAZINE

In the 2013 Regular Session of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, House Concurrent Resolution 129 HD 2 SD 1 (HCR 129) requested DOH to develop partnerships to address the potential data gaps on air, surface water, and near shore effects of atrazine.

KAUAʻI CANCER CLUSTER ANALYSIS

This report has been prepared in response to numerous community inquiries received by DOH and the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry (HTR) regarding suspected elevated rates of cancer among residents of Kauaʻi. The report concludes that that there is no evidence of higher incidence of cancer on the island of Kauaʻi overall or for specific geographic regions of the island, as compared to the state of Hawaiʻi.

KAUAʻI AGRICULTURAL GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM

The  Kauaʻi Agricultural Good Neighbor Program was developed by the DOA Pesticides Branch to provide more information and education on pesticide use on the island.

PESTICIDE REGULATION AT HDOH

The following link from DOA describes how DOH’s Safe Drinking Water Branch (SDWB), Clean Water Branch (CWB), Food and Drug Branch (F&DB), and HEER Office are all involved in addressing the health and environmental effects of pesticide use in Hawaiʻi.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FAQS ON PESTICIDES

The following link answers some Commonly Asked Questions about Pesticides.

KAUAʻI PESTICIDE AIR SAMPLING STUDY REPORT, MARCH 15, 2013

This ambient air study was conducted in response to community concerns about pesticide occurrences at Kauaʻi’s Waimea Canyon Middle School during which time some students and staff exhibited symptoms such as throat irritation, tearing, and dizziness. Concentrations of the pesticides chlorpyrifos, metolachlor, bifenthrin, benzene hexachlorides (BHCs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) were well below health concern exposure limits or applicable screening levels.