02/18/05  Cholinesterase testing program questions

02/18/05 Cholinesterase testing program questions

Farm and Ranch February 18, 2005 Earlier this month the Department of Labor and Industries cholinesterase monitoring program dropped the threshold that triggers testing of workers handling certain farm chemicals from 50 hours of exposure over a 30-day period to 30 hours. Pat Boss, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says potato growers question the lower threshold after only one year of data at 50 hours. Additionally, Boss points out that workers in many crops including potatoes, did not have any depression of the cholinesterase enzyme that can affect the nervous system during the first year of testing. Boss: "Our whole beef with this is that the department needs to look at each commodity, each crop grown, look at the types of chemicals applied. How they are being applied. What kind of safety equipment is being used, and do more of a targeted focused approach to actually try to resolve problems of exposure. Not just going out and casting this big blanket across the state and saying we are going to do this cookie cutter thing with all the crops, and have all you guys have the same requirements, the same level of regulation, when a lot of crops like potatoes, wheat, and hops etc, have not had any problem." Boss says potato growers are getting penalized for having a good record. And he says it is also unfair to employees who are the ones who get their arms stuck with a needle for blood testing. Then there is the cost to the state of reimbursement to farmers for the testing. Boss says a more targeted program would reduce the cost to the taxpayer. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
Previous Report02/17/05 Biodiesel potential in inland northwest
Next Report02/21/05 Lawmakers give ag budget cool reception