# OP **P Re**  **p o**  **r t**  **o n**  **I n**  **c id**  **e n**  **t I**  **n f**  **o r** **m ati**  **o n**  **: T**  **h e**  **Basel i**  **n e** 

## OP **P R**  **e port** **on Incid**  **e nt I**  **nfor m**  **a t** **i on**  **: T**  **he Ba**  **se l**  **i n**  **e T**  **a bl**  **e of**  **Co nten**  **t s** 

Int rod uct ion

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S ecti on 1 : O ve rview o f In ci d en t Dat a

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de i nci de nt?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 How i s In c i de nt Data Collecte d?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 T ab l e 1. 1 – Sum m ary of In ci de n t Dat a Sou r ce s

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r

ofi les o f Inci de nt Data Sou r ces

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Inci d en t Da taSystem ( IDS )

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Cali fo r n i a P est i c i de I ll ne ssSurve ill an ce Prog ram ( P I S P )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 P oi son Co nt ro l Cen te rs Nat ion a l Po i son Dat a S yste m ( NP DS )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Nati on a l Pest i cide In f or m ati on Cen ter ( NP IC)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 E col og i ca l I ncid en t I nfor m ati on System ( E IIS )

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 T he Av i an In c i d en t M on i tor i n g System ( A IM S )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Data Sour ce P r

ac ti cal Co nsi de r ati on s

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S ecti on 2 : Ho w OPP Uses I nci de nt Data

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 F igur e 1 – E P A ’s P est i c i de Re gu l ato r y Syste m

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 F igur e 2 : T he R i sk Assessm en t –Ri sk M an a ge m en t Par ad i gm

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 T ab l e 2. 1: Se l ect ed C ase s W he re I nc i de nt D ata In fo r m ed Reg ul ato ry Action

. . . . . . . . 14 Ri sk Com m un i cati on

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ty

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nfo r cem en t

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m i ta ti on s o f Inci de nt Data

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S ecti on 3 : W ha t Do es Inc i de nt Data T e ll Us?

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Concl us i o n

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2

## OP **P RE**  **PO RT** **O N**  **INCI D**  **E N**  **T I**  **NFOR MATI**  **ON :**  **T H**  **E BAS**  **E L**  **IN E** 

**I ntr** **oduct i**  **on**

T he U.S. E nv i ron m en tal Prote ct i on Age ncy’s ( E P A ) Off i ce o f Pest i c i d e Pro gram s’ ( OPP )
m i ssi on i s to p rot ect hu m an he al th an d t he en vi ro nm en t fr om un r ea son ab l e e ffe cts o f pe sti c i d e use

. T h i s r esp on s i b ili ty ap p li es n o t on l y to the r ev i ew an d li cen s i ng of pe sti c i d es pr i o r to t he i r m ar keti n g i n t h e U.S., bu t to ste war dsh i p of ex i st i ng pe st i c i de s an d p est i c i de p rod uct s.

P r i or to reg i ste r i n g a pe st i c i d e, OPP con du cts hu m an he al th a nd en v i ron m en tal r i sk
asse ssm en ts t o de te r m i ne th e co nd i t i on s u nd er w hi ch a p est i c i de can be use d w i tho ut
r esu l t i ng i n ad versee ffe cts. T h ese con d i t ion sar e refl ecte d i n th e p est i cide’s l ab e l

. In
con du ct i ng t he se ass essm en ts, O P P m ay r eq ui re u pwar ds o f 10 0 st u dies i n a rea s such
as a cut e a nd ch ron i c to x i c i ty, d eve l op m en tal tox i ci ty, an d p es ti c ide m ob i li ty an d pe rs i ste nce

.
S i m i l ar l y, w he n revie w i ng an ex i st i ng pe s ti c i d e O P P ha s th e a b ili ty to r eq u i r e d ata to fill i n a ny ga ps in e x i st i ng kn ow l ed ge

. T he Offi ce ha s ne a r l y co m pl et ed i ts rer eg i st r at i on pr oce ss, a m aj or r evi ew of ex i st i ng p est i c i de s an d t he i r to l eran ces ( m ax i m u m l eg al
am ou nt s o f t he p est i c i de a ll owed to r em ai n o n fo od an d fee d ) . Rereg i str at i o n i s be i ng r ep l ace d w i th a p roce ss ca ll ed R eg i str at i o n R evi ew , w hi ch w i ll en ta il th epe r i o d i c r ev i ew of a l l pe st i c i de s to en su r e t ha t th e i r r eg i st r at i o ns co nt i nu e to m ee t cu r r en t sc i e nt i fi c stan da rds

. OPP ’s sta tu to ry a ut ho r i ty r eq u i res t he O ffi ce to co ns i de r the be ne fi ts o f pe st i c i de s as wel l a s t he p ot en t i a l r i sks. T h i s d oe s no t ove r r i d e t he r esp o nsibili ty to prote ct h um an he alth a nd th e e nv i ron m en t b ut m ea ns t ha t w he r e a pe st i c i de ’s use pr ov i d es b en efi ts, OPP con si de rs m ea ns to en sur e tha t th e r i sk is acce pta b l e. F o r hu m an he alth
con cer ns, t h i s m ay ta ke t he fo r m of r estr i ct i on s on th e t i m e or a m ou nt of ap p li cat i on or the use o f p erso na l p rote ct i ve e qu i pm en t w he n a pp l y i ng th e p est i c i de

. F o r en viro nm en ta l co nc er ns, OPP m ay p l ace r estr i ct i on s on w he r e a p est i cide can be ap plied ( e .g ., away from wate r bo d i es ) or h ow ap p l i cat i on m ay o ccur ( e. g., no ae r i a l ap pli cat i on )

.
In r ea ch i n g r e gu l at ory de c i s i on s o n n ew or ex isti ng pe st i c i de s, OPP u ses a “ li ne of evi de nce ” ap pr o ach , co nsid er i ng a ll ava il ab l e da ta to e nsu r e tha t d ecision s are b oth pr ote ct i ve an d sen s ible. A n i m al te st d at a ar e use d t o ch ar act e r i ze w ha t th e h az ar d of a pe sti c i d e m ay be , o r w ha t r i sks ar e asso c i at ed w i th i ts no r m al use , an d to est i m at e ex po sur e leve l s a bo v e w hi ch t ho s e h aza rds m ay o ccur

. T o su pp l em en t te sti n g d ata
, OPP r evi ews a vailab l e fi e l d da ta. T he se da ta m ay be fo r m al m on i tor i ng tode te r m i ne a pe sti c i d e’s e ffe ctso n th e e nv i ron m en t, o r m ay con si s t o f h um an or eco l o g i ca l i nc i de nt da ta co ll ect e d from go ver nm en ta l a n d no n
­ go ver nm en ta l so u r ces, rep orted by m ed i ca l pr ofe ss i on al s , o r s ub m i tte d b y pe s ti c ide r e gi s t r an ts.In 20 06
, OPP co m m i tte d t o d eve lop i ng a ser i e s of r ep o rts o n inc i de nt i n for m ati on

. I n thi s, th e fi rs t o f t h ose r e po rts, the fo c us i s pr ov i d i ng an ove rv i ew o f t he m ai n so ur ces o f i nc i de nt i nfo r m at i on cu r r en t l y use d b y OPP

. To un de rs tan d i nc i d en t n um be rs, i t i s i m po rta ntto u nd erstan d t h e d ata sou r ces tha t pr ov i de th ose n um be rs. T h e r e po rt i s di v i de d i nt o fi vese ct i on s. F o ll ow i ng t h i s fi rst, intr od uctory, se ct ion the r em ai nd er of th e r ep ort i sstr uct u r ed as fo ll ows:

S ecti on 1 ­ Ov erv i ew o f I nc i de ntD ata

.
T h i s sect i on con ta i ns b as i c i nfo r m ati on on qu esti o ns r eg ar d i ng w ha t co nst i tut es a pe sti c i d e i nc i de nt a nd h ow OPP col l ects i nc i d en t d ata

. T h i s s ect i on sum m ar i zes a nd pr ofil es pe st i c i d e i nc i de nt da ta s ou r ces, an d d iscusses pr act i ca l con s i de r at i on s asso ci a te d w i th t ho se so ur ces

S ecti on 2 –How OPP Uses In ci de nt Data

.
T h i s sect i on di sc usse s h ow i nc ide ntd ata i s co nsi de r ed i n OPP ’s r eg u l ato ry proce ss, i nc l ud i n g r i sk a ss essm en t a nd r i sk m an ag e m e nt, r i sk com m un i cati o n, pe rfor m an ce acco un ta b ili ty, an d en for cem en t. T he r e i s a l s o d i sc uss i on of the li m i ta tion s o f pe st i c i de i nc i de ntd ata

.
S ecti on 3 – W ha t D oe s In c i de ntDat a T e ll Us ?

T h i s sect i on pr ov i de sins i gh t o n t he d i f fi c u l ty in u sing i nc i de n t d ata to r e ach con c l us ions
on pe st i c i de ex po sur es, an d ho w OPP d ea l s w i th th at i ssue

.
Concl us i o n

2

## S **ec t**  **i on**  **1: Ov**  **er vie** **w of**  **I ncide**  **nt D**  **at a** 

**Wha t**  **is a**  **p e** **st ic**  **i d** **e i**  **n ciden**  **t ?** 

P esti c i de s a r e us ed i n a v ar i ety o f se tt i ng s ev ery da y. Bug spr ays ar e u s ed i n g ar de ns an d h om es, ba i t t r ap s ar e p ut ou t to con t ro l m i ce, d i sinfe ctan ts i nsu r eth at s ur g i ca l to o l s ar e sa fe to u se, h er b i c i d es a r eap p li ed to cor n to con trol g r ass es a nd wee ds, an d ki tche n cou nt erto psa r e w i p ed do w n u s i ng sp rays co nta i n i ng an t i m i crob i a l s. W ith t h i s am ou nto f u se, i t i sn otsu r pr i s i ng tha t t he r e are i nc i d en ts a ss ocia ted w i th pe st i c i de us e.

W h at exact l y i s a p est i c i de i nc i de nt? A s i m pl e way to d ef i n e i t i s th at an i nc i de nt i s a ny effect of ap est i c i de ’s us e t ha t i sno t e x pe cted or i nte nd ed

. F or r e l at i ve l y r ar e i nc ide nt s ad verse l y a f fe ct i ng h um an s, su ch a s sp i ll s, le aks, pe st i c i de m ove m en t o ff­ s i te, o r chr on i c e x po sur e to se ns i t i ve pe op l e or th ose w i th pr e­ ex i sting d i sea s es, sym pto m s m ay i ncl ud e he ad a c he s, n a use a, abr e ath i ng pr ob l em , o r m or e seve r e sym pt o m s. In
extr e m e si tu at i on s, system at i c e ffe cts, s er i ou sill ne ss, or de ath m ay o ccur

. F o r an i nc i de nta ffe cting th ee nv i ro nm en t, i m pa cts m ay i nc l u de fi sh or b i rd k il l sor d am ag e t o pl an ts. In ad d i t i on , incide nt s m ay o ccur to d o m esti c an i m al s or w il d li fe. Inc i de nt sm ay be occu pa t i o na l , resid en t i a l
, or e co log i ca l

.
**Ho w i**  **s I**  **n ciden**  **t D** **at a**  **C o**  **lle c**  **t ed**  **?**

S ou r ces of i nc i d en t d at a a r eas var ied as th e type of i nc i de nts. Und e r OPP ’s pr i m ary stat ute , t h e F e de r a l I nse ct i c i de
, F un g i c i d e, an d Ro de nt i c i de Act ( F I F RA ) , o nce a pe sti c i d e i s r e gi s te r e d a r e g i str an t i s r eq uir ed to no t i fy EP A i f i t b eco m es a war e o f

“ fact ua l i nf or m at i on reg ar d ing un r ea son ab l e a dve rse e ff ects on the en v iro nm en t o f th e pe sti c i d e”

. I n ad d i t i o n, th eAgen cy ob tain s r e po rts o f pe st i c i de i nc i d en ts from pr i vate ci t i zen s, po i son con tro l cen te rs , sta tes, an d o t he r go ve r nm en t a nd no n
­ go ve r nm en ta l
or ga n i zat i o ns.

OPP u tili zes a va r i et y of incide nt d ata sou r cessi nce no on e so ur ce co m pl ete l y ad dr esse s th e p rog ram ’s da ta ne ed s. OPP take s a two­ pr on ge d a p pr oa c h t o i nc i de nt da ta: ( 1) u t ili ze all ava il ab l e i nc i d en t i nfo r m ati on to th eexten t p oss i b l e, r eco gn i z i n g t he str en gt hs, wea kne sses a nd li m i tat i on s ass ocia ted w i th ea c h d ata sou r ce ; a nd ( 2) wor k to i m pr ove i nc i de nt infor m at i on use d fo r de c i s ion

­ m aki ng

. T ab l e 2. 1 li sts OPP ’s pr i m ary sou r ces of incide ntd at a, a nd i nc l ud esinfo r m at i on on th e b ase li ne yea r ( ho w l on g t he da ta sou r ce ha s collect ed d ata )

, as w ell as th e so ur ce an d sco p e o f d ata co ll ect ed

.
In ad d i t i on to th e s ou r ces li sted i n T ab l e 2. 1, OPP : co nd ucts op en li ter at ur e se ar che s on case r ep o rts a n d r e l ev an t p est i c i d e e p i de m i o logy stud i es; r ev i ews pe r i od i c su rveys a nd stud ies, such as th e Nat ion a l Agr i cu l tu r a l W or kers Surve y, t he W ash i ng ton State Hu m an Bi o­ M ed i ca l M on i tor i ng Stud i es o n Pe sti c i de H an d l ers, an d t he Nat i on al Can cer Inst i t ut e­ l e d i nt erag en cy Ag r i c u l tur a l He a l th S t ud y ( A HS )

. Fi n all y, OPP dr aws up on con tinu ou s b io­ m on i to r i n g st ud i es of pe st i c i de s fr om al l rou tesof ex po sur e i n th e Nati on a l Hea l th a nd Nut r ition Exa m i na tion Sur vey ( NHA NE S )

.

3**T ab**  **le 1.1**  **– S**  **u m**  **m ary**  **o f**  **In cid**  **en t** **Dat a So**  **u r** **ce s** 

Nam e B ase li ne Yea r S ou r ce o f Da ta S cop e

Data Sour ces w i th bo th Hum an an d Eco l og i ca l In c i d en t Dat a Inci d en t Da ta S yste m ( IDS ) 19 92 , b u t i nc l ud es ea r li er i nc i de nt s Regi st r an ts ( un de r F I F RA §6 ( a) ( 2 )

, ge ne r a l pu b li c, a n d go ve r nm en ts; i nte r na t i o na l i nc i de nt r ep o rts A l l typ es – occu pa t i on a l
, r eside nt i a l
, eco l o g i ca l

Data Sour ces w i th H um an In ci de nt D ata Nati on a l Poi s on Data System ( NP DS ) 19 83 ; l ate r ex pa nd ed to
cove r 1 00 % o f U.S

. po pu l at i on P r i m ar il y p ub li c r ep or ting , t h rou g h P oi son Co nt ro l Cen te rs A l l typ es ( na t i on a l i n scop e)

Nati on a l P esti c i de Infor m at i on Cent er ( NP IC) 19 78 P r ed om i na nt l y p ub li c rep ort ing
, w i th som e ph ysi ci a n r e po rts A l l typ es ( na t i on a l i n scop e)

S en ti ne l Eve nt Noti fi cat ion S yste m fo r Occup at i on a l Ri sk ( S E NS OR) 19 98 S tat e coo rd i n at ors r ece i ve r ep o rts from p hysi cian s, e m er ge ncy r oo m r eco rds, wor kers’ com pe nsa ti on cl a i m s, Poi son Con t ro l Cen te rs, S tat e Ag. Dep ts. Occup at i on a l
an d n on
occu pa t i on a l

Cal . Pest i c i de Ill ne ss S urveill an ce P rog r am ( P ISP ) S tan da rd coll ect i o ns from 1 98 2; up da te d 19 92 P hysi c i an s r ep or te d m ed i ca l
r eco rds, o r th rou g h r ev i ew of
wor ker co m pe nsa ti on rep orts Occup at i on a l
an d r es i d en t i a l pe sti c i d e i nc i de nt s ( Cali f or n i a on l y )

Data Sour ces w i th Eco l o gi ca l In c i de n t Dat a E col og i ca l Inci d en t Infor m at i on S yste m ( E IIS) ~ 197 0 Regi st r an ts, pu b li c li te ratu r e, pu b li c ne ws r ep orts, vo l u nt ary r ep o rts from a fe w sta te s E col og i ca l

Avi an In c i d en t M on i to r i n g S yste m ( A IM S ) ~ 197 0 E IIS, F i sh & W ild li fe Serv i ce en for cem en t ca ses, so m e st ate
r ep ort i n g, r e po rts from w i l d li f e r eh ab ili ta t i o n cen te rs E col og i ca l ( i nc ide nt s r elat ed to bi rds) U.S .G. S . Na t’l W ild li fe Hea l th Cent . M orta li ty Repo rts 19 95 W ild li fe m orta li ty r ep o rts g ath er ed qu arte r l y b y fi e l d tea m s E col og i ca l ( a ll
w i l d li fe – na tion a l i n scop e)

4**P r** 

**o f**  **ile s**  **o f**  **I**

**n ci** **d e** **n t**  **Da t**  **a So u**  **r ce** **s**

W h en co ns i de r ing a d ata sou r ce i t i s i m po rta n t t o un de rstan d its pu r po se. T he f o l low i ng ar e t hu m bn ail ske tch es o f ea ch d ata sou r ce. I n a dd i t i on to d i verge nt p ur po s es, da ta
sou r ces d i ff er i n key d efi n i t i on san d i n ho w d at a ar e o bt a i ne d an d m ai nta i ne d. Unde rsta n din g th es e d i ffe r en ces i s c r i t i ca l to u nd erstan d i ng w ha t th e d ata rep r ese nt an d the str en gt hs an d li m i tat i o ns of th ose d at a for OPP pu r po ses.

Inci d en t Da taSystem ( IDS )

IDS i s m ai nta i ne d by OPP an d i nco r po r a te s d at a sub m i tte d b y r eg i stran ts u n de r F IF RA secti o n 6( a ) ( 2 ) , a s well asot he r i nc i de ntsr ep o rted d i rect l y to EP A

. F IF RA a ll ows th e ag gr eg at i on of ind i v i du a l e v en ts i n so m e ci r cu m sta nce s. IDS i nc l u de s i nfo r m at i on o n i nc i de nt s i nvo l v i ng hu m an s, p l an ts, w i l d a nd d om est i c an i m al s w he r e t he r e i s a c l a i m of
an ad vers e e ffe ct , a s well a s de tect s o f p est i c ide s in wate r

. T h e va st m aj or i ty o f r ep orts
ar e r ec eived i n p ap er for m at. IDS en tr i es a ct as a po i nte r to co p i es o f or i g i na l r ep o rts,
r eta i ne d on m i crofil m a nd scan ne d i m ag es i n OPP ’s Infor m ati on Serv i ce Ce nte r

. M an y com pa ni es use sta n da rd i ze d, i nd ust ry­ d eve l o pe d V olun tar y In c i de n t Rep or ting F or m s. W h ile IDS re po rts ar e b roa d in sco pe , the system do es n otco nsi sten t l y cap t ur e d eta il ed i nfo r m at i on a bo ut i nc i de n t e ven ts, such a s oc cup at i on a l e x po sure c i r cum stan ces or m ed i cal o utcom e. In m ostca ses da ta g o i n g into IDS i s no t va li da te d o r ver i fi e d, tho u gh
som e r ep orts a r e co ll ected from cal l s to co nt ract po i son co ntr o l ce nte rs.

S tr en gt hs – C en tr a li ze d syst em ; d ata “ ow ne d” b y OPP Li m i ta t i on s – low to un eve n l eve l s of de ta il
, la ck o f f u ll y a uto m ate d syst em
­ di ffi cu l ty of
wor ki ng w i th da ta ( n ee d to r ev i ew h ar d co pie s i nste a d o f e lectr on i c sea r che s )

S en ti ne l Eve ntNot i fi cat i on System fo r Occu pa ti on al Ri sk ( S E NS OR)

T he Cen ters fo r D i sea se Co ntr o l a nd Preve nt ion/ Nat i on a l I nst i tut e f or Occu pa t i on a l S afe ty a nd Hea l t h, w i th som e f un din g f rom E P A fo r pe st i c i de po i son i ng s urve ill an ce , m ai nta i n th e S E NS OR da tab ase w hi ch cove rs all occ up at i on al in j ur i es. In pa rt v i a com pe ti ti ve fun d i ng to stat es , SE NS OR i s use d t o m on i tor t r en ds i n occu pa t iona l he a l t h
r elat ed to acu te ex po sur es t o pe st i c i de s, to i d en tify e m er gi ng pe st i c i de p rob l em s, a nd to bu il d an d m ai nt a i n stat e su rve ill an ce ca pa c i ty. SE NS OR i s a stat e­ ba sed su rve ill an ce system
, w i th m ost po i so nin g i nc i de nt case s co ll ecte d fr om Depa rtm en t o f L ab or
wor kers’ com pe nsa ti on c l a i m s w he n r ep orted by ph ys i c i an s, rep or ts fr om State Depa rtm en ts o f Agr i c u l tur e , o r from po i son co ntr o l cen ters. De pe nd i ng o n sta te r ep ort i n g l aws, ca ses m ay al so com e f ro m State Dep artm en ts o f Hea l th ba sed o n r ep ortsb y p hys i c i an ssusp ect i n g p est i c i de ex po sur e. A state SE NS OR co nt act spe ci a li st do es f oll ow
­ up w i th wor kers an d o bt ai ns m ed i ca l r eco rds t o ve r i fy sym pto m s, ci r cum sta nce s su r rou nd i n g t he ex po sur e, sev er ity, a nd ou tcom e. Usi ng stan da rd i zed pr oto co l a nd ca se de fi n i t i on s, de r i ve d f rom po ison cen te r r ep ort i ng , SE NS OR
coo rd i na tors a t Stat e Dep a rtm en ts o f Hea l t h e nte r th einc i de nt i n terv i ew de scr i pt i on pr ov i de d by t he wor ker , m ed i ca l r ep o rt, p hys i c i an an d p a tien t i nto t he SE NS OR da ta system , a ccessi bl eto p a rt i c i pa t i ng stat es a nd E P A

.

5S tr en gt hs – M ostco m pr eh en s i ve syst em for occu pa t i on a l i nc i d en ts Li m i ta t i on s – On l y 1 2 state s p a rt i c i pa te, an d a l a rge % o f d at a com es from Cal i for n i a an d W ash i ng ton State

Cali fo r n i a P est i c i de I ll ne ssSurve ill an ce Prog ram ( P I S P )

T he State of Ca li fo r nia m ai nta i ns t he PIS P da tab ase an d sha res d ata w i t h EP A on r eq ue st. Pesti c ide

­ re l ate d ill ne ssan d i nj ury d ata fr om PIS P ar e u sed to va li da te t he effect i ven ess of Ca li fo r n ia’s Dep ar tm en t o f Pesti c i de R eg u l at i on ex po sur e co nt ro l
m ea sur es an d i d en t i fy p o ten t i a l a r ea s fo r i m pr ove m en ts t o sta te r eg u lat i on s. Phys i c i an s m ust r ep ort su spe cte d case s of pe st i c i de ex p osu r e i n o rde r to be pa i d i n wor ker
com pe nsa ti on ca ses an d wor ker ’s com pe nsa tion clai m s ar e r ev i ewed an d en te r ed i nto P ISP

. Coun ty a gr i cu l tu r a l com m i ssi on ers ar e no tified to f o l low

­ up w i th inve st i ga t i o ns.

S tr en gt hs – U niq ue i nfr astr uctu r efo r f

ollow

­ up ; st ron g ba se li ne i nf or m ati on ; l on ge st hi sto ry o f r eco rd kee p i n g for ten ds; an d, a ll ty pe s of pe st i c i d es a r einc l ud ed Li m i ta t i on s – L i m i te d to Ca li fo r nia ; o ccas i o na l l ag ti m e b etw ee n i nc i d en t a n d r ep ort

P oi son Co nt ro l Cen te rs Nat ion a l Po i son Dat a S yste m ( NP DS )

NP DS , for m er l y th eT ox i c Effects S u rve ill an ceSyste m ( T E S S ) , i s m ai nt a i ne d by t he A m er i can Assoc i at i on of P o i son Con t ro l Cen ters ( P CC), w i th fun d i ng from seve r al fed er a l a ge nc i es. NPD S i s a com pu te r i zed i nf or m ati on syste m w i th ge og r ap h i ca ll y spe ci fi c an d n ea r r ea l

­ t i m e r ep ort i n g ( fo r b i ot e r ror i sm de tect ion pu r po ses )

. W h il e th e m ai n m i ssi on of P o i son Con t ro l Cen ters i s he lpi ng ca ll ers r esp on d t o e m er ge nc i es, a nd
no t co ll ect i ng s pe c i fi cs o n i nc i d en ts, NP DS d a ta he l ps i de n t i fy e m er gi ng pr ob l em s i n che m i cal p rod uctsa fe ty. Hot li n es at6 1 PC C’s nat i on w i de a r e o p en 24 / 7, 36 5da ys a yea r w i th m an y b ili ng u al ce nte rs i n h i gh Span ish sp ea k i ng ar ea s, an d 8 0 l an gu ag e tr an s l at i on cap ab ili ty. Ho tline s are st affe d b y spe ci a ll y tr a i ne d nu rs es to p rov i de po i so n i ng i nfo r m at i on an d clini ca l car e r eco m m en da ti on s to ca ll e rs w i th a f ocu s on tr iage to g i ve pa t i e nt s ap p rop r iate ca r e. Us i ng com pu ter assi sted da ta e ntry, stan da rd i z ed p rot oco l s, a nd str i ct da ta en try c r i ter i a, l oc al ca l lers r ep or t i nc i de nts tha t
ar e r e ta i ne d l oc all y an d u pd ate d in su m m ary for m to th e n atio na l da tab ase

. Si nc e 2 00 0
ne ar l y a ll ca ll s i n t he syste m ar e su bm i tte d i n a co m pu ter

­ assi sted i nte rv i ew fo r m at by the 61 ce rt i fi ed Po i son C on tro l Ce nte rs, ad he r i ng to c li n i ca l cr i te r i a d es i g ne d to p rov i d e a co ns i ste nt ap pr o ach to eva l ua t i ng an d m an ag i ng pe st i c i de an d d r ug r e l ate d ad vers e i nc i de nt s. Inf or m at i on ca ll s a r e ta lli ed sep arat el y a nd no t cou nte d a s i nc i de nts. T he P CC syste m co vers n ea r l y a ll t he US an d i ts t er r i to r ies a nd i s un de rgo i ng m aj or com pu te r e nh an cem en ts p ost 9/1 1.

S tr en gt hs – N at i on a l i n scop e Li m i ta t i on s –System i s c li n i ca ll y o r ien te d an d l arge ( w i th ove r 1.5 m i lli on r eco rds) a nd pr i m ar il y r ep rese nt s r es i de nt i a l s ett i ng s ( no t cu r r en t l y d es ign ed to co ll ect de ta il ed
occu pa t i on a l i nc ide ntd ata )

. A re cen t p i lot i n Col o r ad o i s a dd r ess i n g t h i s ga p a nd
cou l d p rov e to b ea Nat i on al e xa m pl e o f i m pr ove d r ep o rt i ng

. It i s d i ffi cu l t to i nte r pr e t t r e nd s i n P CC dat a w i t ho ut sta ti s ti ca l kno w ho w

.

6Nati on a l Pest i cide In f or m ati on Cen ter ( NP IC)

NP IC i s fu nd ed b y EP A to serveas a so ur ce o f o bj ecti ve, sc i en ce­ ba s ed p est i c i d e i nfo r m at i on i n resp on se to i nq u ir i es an d to r es po nd to i nc i d en ts. NPIC fun ction s na tion a ll y d u r i ng wee kda y bu s i n ess h ou rs, u n de r a co op erat i ve e ffo rt b e twee n O r eg on S tat e Uni v ers i ty a n d E P A

. S i m i l ar to Po i son Con tro l Cen ters, NPIC’ s pr i m ary pu r po se i s to pr ov i de infor m at i on an d n o t to co ll ect inc iden t d at a. NP IC do es co ll ect i nfo r m ati on ab ou t i nc i de nt s fr om i nq u ire rs an d rep ortsth at i nf or m ati on to EP A

. T he Cen te r ’s m ai n role i s to p rov i de i n fo r m ati on toinq u i r e rs on a w i de r an ge of pe st i c i d e t op i cs, an d d ire ct call e rs fo r pe st i c i de i nc i d en t i nve st iga t i on a nd em er ge ncy t r ea tm en t.

S tr en gt hs – N at i on a l i n scop e Li m i ta t i on s –System n ot de s i gn e d t o co ll ect d eta il e d occu p at i on a l i nc i d en t d ata; li m i ted # o f ca ll s. A l th ou g h th e m ai n o bj ecti ve i s n ot to ob ta i n i nc i d en t d a ta, NP IC’s
r eco rd i n g of ca ll s i s g u i de d b y Stand ard O pe rati n g Pro ced ur es a nd th e ab ili ty to
r etr i eve an d u s e da ta fo r su c h case s i s a de qu ate , a nd ha s prove n u s ef u l

. A bo ut 10 % o f NPIC’ s a nn ua l ca ll s a r e co ns i d er ed “ i n ci de n t” re l ate d.

E col og i ca l I ncid en t I nfor m ati on System ( E IIS **)**

E IIS i s a n OPP d at a ba se w i th 89 d i st i nctfield s w i th i n 13 da ta t ab l es an d p rov i de s m or e de ta i led i nfo r m at i on o n I DS i nc i de nt s i nvo l v i ng effects to w il d no n­ tar ge t an i m al s an d pl an ts. W he n ava il ab l e, EIIS i nc l ud es da te an d l oc at i on of inc i de nt, type an d m ag ni tud e of effect s o bse rve d i n var iou s spe c i es, use ( s ) of pe st i c i de s kn ow n o r susp ecte d o f
con tr i bu t i n g to th e i nc i de nt, an d r esu l ts o f an y che m i cal r es i d ue an d ch o li ne ster ase acti v i ty an a l yses co nd ucte d du r i n g i nc i de nt in vesti g at i on . EIIS i nc i de n ts a r eca te go r i zed
acco rd i ng to th e certa i nty th at t he i nc i de n t r es ul te d f rom pe sti c i d e ex po sur e.

S tr en gt hs – D et a il ed i nf or m ati on r e late d to e col og i cal i m pa cts Li m i ta t i on s – L i m i te d nu m be r o f r ep o rted i nc id en ts; d i ffi cu l t to p rov e ca use of m ortali t i es

Nati on a l W il d li f e Hea l th Ce nte r ( N W HC ) Qu a rter l y M orta li ty Rep o rts

T he U.S. Geo l o g i ca l Surve y’s Nat i o na l W ild l if e He alth Cen ter ( N W HC) p rod uc es qu arte r l y m orta li ty r e po rts de ta ili ng w il d li fe m orta l ity eve nts thr o ug ho ut th e U.S. T he se r ep ortsa r e com pi l ed from a da tab ase o f w i ldli f e m ortal i ty eve nts m ai nta i n ed atN W HC. Data a r e ga th e r ed b y F i e l d I nv est i ga t i on sT ea m pe rson ne l co ll ab or at i n g a crossth e cou ntry, a t t he f ed eral, stat e an d l oca l l ev e l s. I nfo r m ati on i s m ost co m pl et e p ost

­ 19 7 5, bu t so m e da ta a r e av ailab l e f rom ea r li er ye ars

.
S tr en gt hs – D at a co ll ecte d b y fi e l d pe rso nn e l
, so i t i s r e li ab l e; na t i on a l in sco pe Li m i ta t i on s – Lo w l eve l o f d et a il ; n o de te r m i na ti on of prob ab ili ty th at pe st i c i d e ca use d effect; d i ffi cu l t to l oca tecar cass es. Data i s pr im ar i l y li m i ted to ef fects o n m i gr at ory b i rdsa nd e nd an g er ed s pe c i es.

7T he Av i an In c i d en t M on i tor i n g System ( A IM S )

T he Av i an In c i d en t M on i tor i n g System ( A IM S ) was cr ea ted by a coo pe rat i ve p rog r am be twee n t he Am er i can Bi rd Con se rvan cy ( A B C) an d EP A , a nd i s no w m ai nta i n ed by A B C al on e. T hr o ug h A IM S , AB C see ks to colle ct, st or e , a nd r ep o rt d at a o n p est i cide po i so ne d b ird s, a n d i m pr ove i de nt i fi cat i on , i nv esti g at i on , a nd l ab o r ato ry an a l ys i s r e l ate d to b i rd p oi s on i ng s. T he AIM S da tab as e se rve s as a ce nt r a li zed pu b l i c sou r ce for fie l d da ta on l e th a l a n d sub

­ l e tha l e ff ect s o f p est i c ides on b i rds. T he se d a ta can be use d to de velo p pe st i c i d e usa g e r eco m m en da ti on s, whil e p rov i d i ng a m ea ns t o i d en t i fy r i sks po sed b y cu r r e ntu sag e r eco m m en da ti on s an d l a be l i nstr uct i on s. AIM S fa cili tat es m or e system at i c i de n tifi cat i on , d iag no s i s, a nd rep ort i ng of pe st i c i d e­ r e l a ted b ird i nc i de n ts, a nd
en ab l es be tte r sh ar i ng of i nfo r m ati on on i nc i d en ts a m on g go ver nm en t a ge nc i es.

S tr en gt hs – H i g h l eve l of de ta il ; d ata i s reliab le; n at i on a l i n scop e Li m i ta t i on s –Sm al l nu m be r of case s th at are no t a va il ab l e from ot he r sou r ces; on l y con ta i ns av i an incid en ts

**Dat a So**  **u r**  **ce Pr**  **ac t**  **i ca**  **l Co n**  **si d** **erati o**  **n s** 

E ach d at a sou r ce ha sstr en gth s an d w ea kne sses, pa rt i cu l a r l y as i t r e l ate s to O P P ’s
ne ed s. T he n ext se ct i on ( How OPP Uses In cide ntData ) con ta i nsa m or e d eta il ed di scuss i o n of th ose i ssue s an d h ow th ey a r e a dd r esse d by t he pr og r am

. S eve r al
con si d er at i o ns m ustb e t ake n i nto acco un t i n de ci d ing w he th er torou t ine l y use a da ta
sou r ce, i nc l u din g com pl ete ne s s of da ta, acce s si b ili ty, a nd ab ili ty tosea r ch th e d ata ba se

. In ad d i t i on , a s m en ti on ed in th e t hu m bn ail ske tche s of Po i son Co ntr o l Ce nte rs an d NP IC, m an y o f t he i nc i de nt da ta so ur ces w er ede ve l op ed as pu b li c h ea l th su rve ill an ce too l sto o bs erve t r en ds i n he a l th or e nviron m en tal co nce r ns a nd no t fo r ar r i v i ng at po i nt esti m at es of pe st i c i de i nc ide nts.

T ab l e 1. 2 r ev i ews so m e o f th e ke y fe atu r es fo r ea ch d ata sou r ce. T he se fe at u r es pr ov i de a con te xt for h ow use ful t he i nfo r m ati on pr ov i de d m ay b e t o O P P

. F or ex am pl e, the l eve l o f de ta il p rov i de d b y SE NS OR an d PISP , w hi ch a r e p r i m ar il y de s igne d to coll ect da ta o n pe st i c i de inc i de nts, d i ffe rs from NP IC w ho se p r i m ary pu r po se i s to a ss i st the pu b li c i n ob ta i n i ng info r m at i on ab ou t pe st ici de s an d p e st i cide ex po sur e. T ab le 1 .2 al so i n d i cat es t he vo l um e o f r ep or ts g en e r ate d b y ea ch da ta so ur ce. W h il eth i s m ay vary fr om ye ar to ye a r , th i s i n for m ati on a ll ows a com pa r i son be twee n d ata sou r ces. F ina ll y, T a b l e 1 .2 ind i cate d th e rela t i ve co st fo r ea ch d ata sou r ce. T h i s cost i s no t th e tot a l costfo r o pe r at i ng the da ta sou r ce, bu t r at he r th e cost to OPP

. W he r e O P P sta ff ti m e i s r eq u i r ed ( IDS a nd EIIS ) th i sfi gu r ei sin di cat ed as well

. It sh ou l d be no ted th at the co sts li ste d fo r b ot h I DS an d NP IC ar e fo r all i nc i de nt da ta co ll ecte d , n ot j ust hu m an i nc i de ntd ata

.

8**T ab**  **le 1.2**  **: Key** **F ea**  **t u**  **r es**  **o f**  **I n**  **cid en**  **t Dat**  **a S**  **o u**  **r ce**  **s**

Na m e K ey F e at ur es # Re po rts/Yr. Cos t/Yr.

Data Sour ces w i th bo th Hum an an d Eco l og i ca l Inc i d en t Da ta

IDS • M ai n l y i nd ust ry g en er ate d, m an y usi ng stan da rd i z ed , vo l un ta ry f or m at

• M ost r ep orts o n pa p er , i nd exed e l ectron i ca ll y by E P A r eg i str at ion n um be r /incid en t ca s e n um be r

• T wo­ ti ered se a r ch cap ab il ity ( ta bu l ar s um m ary of eco l og i ca l a nd m i no r hu m an i nc i d en ts, f u ll
sum m ar i es o f m od er at e/m aj or hu m an i ncid en ts)

• Data ba se co nt a i ns th e sum m ar i es, bu t fu ll
r ep ortsa r e ava il ab l e

• Data ba se i s fu ll y s ea r cha b l e b y ex pe rts ~ 60, 00 0, ag gr eg at ed from a l l
r ep orts ~$20 0 K ( 2 staf f)

Data Sour ces w i th H um an In ci de ntD ata

NP DS ( for m er l y T E S S ) • Ope n 24 ho urs/da y, 3 6 5 d ays a yea r

• B i lingu a l i n Spa ni s h spe ak i n g a rea s, i nsta nt
acce ss to 8 0 ot he r lan gu a ge s

• S pe ci a li zed nu rses sup po rted by to x i co l og i sts

• Co m pu te r a ss i ste d da ta e ntry us i n g stan da rd i z ed p rot oco l s a nd da ta e ntry cr i te r ia

• S ea r cha b l e b y e x pe rts w / d ata ba se kn ow l ed g e 89 ,36 1 ( 05 )

, 90 ,34 1 ( 06 ) ~$45 K

NP IC • T o l l­f r e e serv i ceth atp rov i de s a va r i ety of i nfo r m at i on a bo utp est i c i d es

• Infor m at i on p rov i de d i nc lud es pe s ti c ide p rod u ct i nfo r m at i on , t ox i co l o gy, r ecog n i t i on an d
m an ag e m en t o f p est i c i de po i son i n gs, safe ty pr act i ces, c l ea n up a nd d i spo s a l

• S taf fe d by pe s ti c i d e spe c i a li sts w i th to x i co l og y an d e nv i ron m en ta l ch em i stry tra i n i ng

• Ope r at es da il y fr om 6 :30 – 4: 30 Pac i fi c T i m e 3,1 90 ( 05 ) ~ $1. 6 M ( tot a l cost for NP IC op er at i o n, no t j ustco st
asso ci a te d
w i th th e r ep ort i n g of i nc i de nt s) S E NS OR • F u l l y com pu te r i zed w / co m m on ca se de fi n i t i o n s

• Data o w ne d by pa rt i c i p at i ng sta tes ( 1 2 cu r r en t l y)

• Capa ci ty to i de nt i fy n ew ha zar ds/ pr ov i de r ap i d stat e fo ll ow
­ up an d inte r
­ stat e com m un i cat i on

• F u l l y sea r c ha b l e by k no w l ed ge ab l e e x pe rts ~1,00 0 ( @1⁄2 of w hi ch ar e occu pa t i on a l ~$35 0 K

P ISP • Hi story o f co o pe r at ion w i th E P A

• P rod uctsp ec i fi c u s e/ usa g e i nfo . b y cou nty

• Co m pu te r i z ed li nk to wor km an ’s co m pe nsa ti o n cl a i m s d at a/r eq u i rem en t fo r ph ys i c i an s rep ort pr ior top aym en t o f wor k m an ’s co m p cl ai m ~1,00 0 None

9Na m e K ey F e at ur es # Re po rts/Yr. Cos t/Yr.

Data Sour ces w i th Eco l o gi ca l In c i de n t Dat a

E IIS Rang es from ~150 to ~67 5 ~150 K; ( 1 staf f) A IM S Rang ers from ~40 t o ~225 None

N W HC M ortali ty Repo rts ~ 6­ 7 None

10

## S **ec t**  **i on**  **2: H**  **o w**  **O P**  **P U**  **se s**  **I nci**  **d ent**  **D at**  **a**

S ecti on 1 p rov ided a n o verv i ew of ava il ab l es ou r ces fo r i nc i de n t d ata
, an d p rov i de d
som e i nsi gh t as to t he str e ng ths a nd li m i tat ion s of ea ch. T h i s sect ion w il l d i scuss t he
ways i n w hi ch OPP u tili zesinc i de nt da ta. As was d i scusse d e a r li er , no s i ng l e da ta
sou r ce p rov i de s p erfe ct da ta f or OPP ’s pu r p o ses. In ad dition , a s w ill b ed i scusse d i n thi s s ect i on , so m e i nc i de nt da ta h as se v er e lim i tat i on s an d m ust be pr op e r l y con s i de r ed

. W h ile i nc i de ntd at a m ay h el p p rov i de p erspe ct i ve, i t m ay n ot be o f su ffi c i en t qu a li ty o r qu an t i ty t o be a p pr op r i ate fo r use in r i sk asse s s m en ts fo r eve r y che m i cal

. OPP ’s ap pr oa c h i s to u t ili ze all ava il ab l e d ata , a ccou nti n g for bo th st r en gt hs a nd li m i tat i on s.

T he r ea r e s eve r a l ways in w hi ch i nc i de ntda ta m ay h el p i n for m OPP ’s pe sti cide
r eg u l at o ry p roce ss. F or ex am pl e, incide nt d at a m ay b e:

• con si d er ed w he n r ev i ew i ng a p p l i cat i on s fo r r e gi st r at i on o f n ew pe sti c ides th a t a r e che m i call y s i m i l ar to e x i st i ng pe st i c i de s;

• use d a s a n ind i cat o r o f re l at i ve r i sk or un usu a l ex po sur e situa t i on s du r i n g de li b er at i o ns on r i sk m an ag e m en t d eci s i on s ;

• r eview ed to d et e r m i ne tr en ds tha t m ay i nd i cat e p ote nt i a l pr ob l em s w i th a n ex i st i ng pe sti c i d e an d to track i m pr ove m en ts w he n m i ti ga t i o n m ea sur es a r e a pp li ed

. OPP u ses i nc i de nt i nfo r m ati on fo r fou r pr i m ary p ur po ses

. F i rst, i nc i de n t d at a i s use d to i nfo r m r i sk r ed uct i on th rou gh r i sk asse ssm en t/r i sk m an ag em en t a cti v i t i es. F or exa m pl e, i nc i de nt i nfo r m at i on ca n i nd i ca te a n ee d fo r ne w r i sk m an ag e m en t m ea sur es a nd can he l pa ssess t h e succe ss o f r i sk m i ti g at i on act ions aft er th ey a r e i m pl em en te d. S eco nd
, i nc i de ntd ata m ay be u sed in r i sk com m un i catio n t o p o rtr ay na ture, exten t a nd seve r i ty of incide nt s to de c i s i on
­ m ake rs, st ake ho l de rs an d t he pu b li c i n g e ne r a l

. T h i rd l y, i nc i de nt i nfo r m at i on i s a n i n te gr a l pa rt of OPP ’s pe rfo r m an ce a ccou nta bili ty syst em

. L ast, bu t
no t l ea st, i nc i d en t i nfo r m ati on can be use ful in ta rge t i n g e nfo r cem en t a cti v i t i es an d ca n serve as a s ou r cefo r i n for m ati on o n co m pl i a n ce w i th inc i de nt r ep o rt i ng reg u l at i o ns.

Ri sk Red ucti on th r ou gh Ri sk Assessme nt a nd Ri sk Man ag em en t

T he p est i c i d e r e gu l at ory syste m can be se en as an i nte g r at ed p ro gr am d esi gn e d t o en sur e t ha t d ec i s i o ns on p est i cide p rod ucts are t r an s l at ed to actua l p rote ct i on sin t he fi e l d ( F i g ur e 1 )

. T he fi rst ste p i s a n a ssessm en t o f a p est i cide’s r i sks, using a b att ery of sci en t i fi c s tu d i es a nd e x po sur e m od el s. Seco nd , EP A con du cts r i sk m an ag em en t
w he r e m ea sur es ar e intr od uce d w he r e n e ed e d t o a ll ow fo r th e sa fe use of a p est i cide. T h i rd, r i sk m an ag e m en t d eci s i o ns a r econ vey ed th ro ug h l ab el d i r ect i o ns so th at po ten t i a l r i sks m ay be m i ti ga ted att he po i n t o f use

. La st l y, ef fe ct i ve r i sk co m m un i cati o n en sur es t ha t i nd i v i du a l s w ho use pe st i c i de s h ave th e kn ow l ed ge to u se t h em pr op er l y

.
Inci d en t d a ta ca n he l p stren gth e n t he li nksin t hi s i nt eg r at ed p rog r am bo th by h e lping OPP m ake b et te r d ec i s i on s i n ad d r ess i ng p ot en tial p est i c i de r i sks an d by r es po nd i ng to si tua tion s w he r e th e go a l of s afe a nd be n efi cial us e i s be i ng com pr o m i sed

. T h i s fee db ack i s i m po rta nt i n e nsu r i ng tha t r eg u l atory de c i s i on s ar e su ffi cient l y prote ct i ve.

11**de t**  **er mi**  **ne F**  **ig u**  **r e**  **1 –**  **E P**  **A ’s**  **Pest ici**  **d e Re**  **g u**  **lat o**  **r y**  **S y** **st em** 

**Ri sk**  **A ss**  **es smen**  **t Risk**  **M an**  **ag eme**  **n t**  **Risk M**  **it ig**  **at io**  **n P**  **es t**  **ic id**  **e Use**  **R i**  **s k**  **R e**  **d u**  **c ti**  **o n**  **T h**  **r o**  **u g**  **h I**  **n te**  **g r**  **a te**  **d Pr**  **o te**  **c ti**  **o n** 

**I nc**  **i de**  **nt da** **t a**  **may i**  **n f** **or m**  **de ci**  **s i**  **on s**  **w he**  **re a**  **ne w**  **pe sti**  **ci de**  **i s**  **si mi**  **l ar**  **t o**  **an exis**  **t i**  **ng on**  **e I**  **nc i**  **de nt**  **da t**  **a i**  **nd i**  **cate rel**  **a t**  **i ve**  **ri s**  **k o**  **r un**  **us ua**  **l exp**  **os ure**  **si t**  **ua t**  **i on**  **s I**  **nc i**  **de nt**  **da t**  **a can**  **he l**  **p i**  **nd i**  **cate ar**  **eas w**  **he re**  **ri s**  **k mi**  **t i**  **g at**  **i on**  **i s** 

**ne ces**  **sary I**  **nc i**  **de nt**  **da t**  **a prov**  **i d**  **es a n**  **i nd**  **i cat**  **i on**  **of**
**w he**  **t he**  **r r**  **i sk**  **de ci**  **s i**  **on s**  **are**

**eff ec** **t i**  **ve i**  **n actua**  **l us**  **e** Pot en t ia l Pes t ic i de R i s k Actua l Pes t ic i de R i s k

E P A ’s r i sk a ssessm en t ­ r i sk m an ag e m en t p arad i gm ( F i gu re 2) he l ps ill ustrat e ho w OPP utili zes i nc i d en t d a ta

. T he pa r ad i gm i nc l ud es fou r ba s i c r i sk asse ssm en t e l em en ts: ha zar d i d en t i fi cat i on , d ose
­ r esp o nse a ssessm en t, e x po sur e a ss essm en t, a nd r i sk cha r act e r i zat i on

. D ata use d i n h aza rd i de nt i ficati o n, do se
­ r es po nse , an d so m e ex po sur e asse ssm en ts a r e b ase d on l ab or ato ry da ta o r da ta g en er ate d b y m od el s.

Inci d en t d a ta ca n be u seful fo r con fi r m i ng r e al wor l d r i sks th at are p r e d i cted by “ l ab

ge ne r at ed ” tox i city a nd ex po sur e d ata m od el ing. F o r e xam pl e, an i nc i de nt of m ortali ty of fi s h i n a p on d fo ll ow i n g e x po sur e t oan i nse cti c i de wou l d co nfirm a pr ed i ct i o n o f h i g h
r i sk ba sed o n l ab o r at ory to x i c i ty d at a a nd ex po sur e m od eli ng

. In ad dition to con fi r m i ng pr ed i cte d r i sks, i nc i de nt da tam ay sh ow an ef fectno t e v i d en t i n t ox i c i ty test s o r he l p OPP co m pa r e th e r i sks of a spe c i fi c p est i c i de w i th oth er pr od ucts ap p rove d f or th e sam e use

. Once a r i sk a ss essm en t i s com pl ete d, i t i s us ed to m ake r i sk m an ag em en t d eci s i on s o n a p rod uct­ by­ pr od uctb as i s, i f pr od uctsp ec i fi c i nfo r m ati on Is co ns i sten t l y cap t ur ed , a s i n m an y IDS and NP D S i nc i de nts. If the r i sks a re con s i de red to o h i gh
, r i sk m an ag e m en t tech n i qu es c an b e em pl oye d t o red uce ex po sur e o r th e h aza rd from th e p est i cide i n or de r to r e du ce th e r i sk. M an y o f th ese tech n ique s ar ei m pl em en ted th ro ug h t h e pr od uct ’s l a be l

. E xa m pl es of r i sk m an ag em en t te chn i qu esut ili zed by OPP i nc l ud e , b ut
ar e n ot li m i te d to :

• Restr i ction s o n w ho ca n use th epr od uct an d w he n an d ho w i t ca n be u sed ;

• Chan g i ng p rod uct fo r m ul at i on ;

• Chan g i ng Rest r i cte d E ntry In te rva l s ( RE Is) f or wor kers;

• Redu cing ap p li ca tion rate s;

• Usi ng sp r ay d r i ft con t ro l tec hn o l og y;

• Incr ea s i ng pe rso na l p rote ct i ve e qu i pm en t ( P P E ) ;

• Add i ng en g i ne er i ng co ntr o l s ( e.g ., wate r so lub l e b ag s o r closed m i x i ng / l oa d i n g system s) ;

12• Cance li n g use s;

• S ett i ng bu ffe r zo ne s;

• T r a i n i ng fo r t ho se us i n g t he p est i c i de toen sure p rop e r usa ge

.
As th i s fi gu r e i nd i cat es, i nc i de nt da ta m ay h elp i n for m OPP ’s acti vi t i es i n an y of the se ar ea s. W h il e i nc ide nt s, a nd i nc i de nt da ta , a r en otg en er a ll y a d ete r m i n i ng fa ctor
, on occa si o n th ey do i nd i cat e t r e nd s or ar ea sth at ne ed grea ter at ten tion

.
**F ig**  **u r** **e 2:**  **T h**  **e Ri**  **sk A** **ss es**  **smen t** **– Risk** **M a**  **n ag**  **emen t** **Par ad**  **ig m** 



### R **i sk**  **C ha**  **ract eri**  **zati on**  **D os**  **e ­**  **R esp**  **on se**  **A**

**s sess**  **ment**

**H azard**  **I de**  **nti f**  **i cat**  **i on** 

**E xp**  **os ure**  **A**

**s sess**  **ment R**  **eg ulat**  **ory D**  **ecisi on**  **C on**  **t rol**  **O pt**  **i on**  **s**

**N on**  **­ R**  **i sk**  **A na**  **l yses**  

### RIS **K A** **S S**  **E S**  **S M**  **E NT**  **RIS K M**  **A N**  **AGE M**  **E NT** 

In ad d i t i on to th e pr od uct­ by

­ pr o du ct d ec i s i o n s, O P P ut ili zes i nc i de nt da ta a s an a i d t o asse ss r i sks a nd d ec i de on ap p rop r iate r i sk m an ag em en t te chn i qu es d ur i ng r u l em aki ng

. F or ex am pl e, i n d r af ting wor ker p rote ct i o n r eg ul at i o ns, OPP con s i de red a ll ava il a b l e i nc i de nt i nfo r m at i on

.
T he r i sk asse ssm en t a nd r i sk m an ag e m en t p roce ss pr ov i d es t he m ea ns a nd
m eth od ol og y to e nsu r eth at p est i c i de s can be use d sa fe l y, an d t h at pu b li c h ea l th a nd the en v i ro nm en t a r e pr ot ecte d from an y un r ea son ab l e a dv erse e ffe cts o f th at us e. T he ab ili ty to de te r m i ne d et a il s co nce r n i n g p est i c i d e e x po sur e i s cr i t i ca l i n de ve l op i n g pr ote ct i ve r i sk m an ag e m en t str ate g i es. Ana l yzi ng pe st i c i de i nc i d en t d a ta can pr ov i de
an i m po rta ntf ee db ack m ech an i sm

. Spe ci fi ca ll y, h um an he al th i nc i d en t d a ta can ta rge t

13fi e l d pr og r am d i r ect i on an d f ocu s ou t r ea ch an d t r a i n i ng to r e du ce p est i cide ex po sur es an d p rov ide i m pe tu s to pu rsue r eg ula tory c ha ng e. S i m il ar l y, e colog i ca l i nc i de nts i nvo l v i ng a p est i c i d e m ay co nfi r m a r i sk t ha t was p r ed i cte d b y ef f ect an d e x po sur e m od el s, o r i t m ay i nd i cate t ha t th e a ctua l r i sk is gr ea te r th a n t ha t pr ed i cted by th e m od el

. On occa s i on , i nc ide ntd ata ha s be en of en o ug h co nce r n fo r EP A to i n i t i ate act i on ag ainsta p est i c i de

. Res i d en t i a l u ser est r i ctio ns w er e a pp l ied to bo th d i az ino n an d chl op y r i ph os, a ct i on was t ake n to co nt ro l dr i ft for m eth yl br om i de , b ett er pa ckag i n g was r eq u i r e d fo r m al at h ion , a n d p ers on a l p rote ct i v e e qu i pm en t was r eq ui red fo r th i r am

. S o m e ad di t i on al ca ses a r e o ut li n ed i n T ab l e 3 .1

.
**T ab**  **le 2.1**  **: S**  **ele ct**  **ed Cas**  **es Wh**  **ere I n**  **cid en**  **t Dat**  **a I n**  **f o**  **r m**  **ed Reg**  **u lat**  **o r**  **y**

**A ct**  **io n** 

P esti c ide Inci d en ts o f C on cer n Age ncy A cti on Resu l t M evi np ho s W o r ker e x po sur e Ini t i a te d p roce ss to can ce l a ll u s es Regi st r an t vo lun ta r il y can celled a ll u ses Car bo fu ran B i rd k ill s E P A r esp on de d to incide nt s asso ci a te d w i th
use of g ran u l a r for m ul at ions Gr an u l ar fo r m ul at i on use se ver e l y r ed uc ed by e li m i na t i on of u ses an d l i m i ts o n am ou nt all owed fo r s ale A l ler ca r e ( t r ad e na m e) se l ecte d pr od uct s Resi de nt i a l e x po sur e ( asth m at i c r ea ct i o ns, r esp i r at o ry p rob l em s) Requ estfo r r eg i str an t t o can cel/r eca ll pr od uct s Regi st r an t stop pe d sal e an d reca ll ed
ex i sti ng p ro du cts

Ri sk Com m un i cati on

In ad d i t i on to r i sk a ss essm en t a nd r i sk m an ag em en t, i nci d en t i nfo r m ati on can be use ful i n r i sk co m m un i cat i on

. In fo r m ati on on t he na t ur e, exten t, a n d se ver i ty of i nc i de nts i s val ua b l e i n com m un i catin g w i th Con gr ess, the Off i ce o f M an ag em en t a nd Budg et, th e ge ne r a l pu b li c, a n d sta keh old ers. In c i de nt inf or m ati on can p rov i de i ns i g ht on t he
m ag ni tu de o f p rob l em s i de nt i fi ed w hi ch prov i d es cr i t i ca l i nfo r m ati on to m an ag ers i nvo l ve d i n r es ou r cea l locat i on

. S eve r a l OPP pu bli c com m un i cati on effortsha ve b ee n i n i t i ate d to d ire ct l y resp on d to s i tua t i o ns w he r e i nc i d en ts h ave occu r r ed
, inc l ud i ng :

• “ Lo ck i t Up ” – To r a i se awar en ess of h ow to preve nt po i son ings an d ex po sur e t o ho use ho l d c l e an ersa nd p est i c i de s, EP A pr od uce d p oste rs en co ur ag ing pa r en ts to safe l y sto r e pe st i c i de s – po ste r d i sp l aye d on s eve r a l m ass t r an si t syste m s;

• “ T en T i ps to Prot ectCh il d r en from Pesti ci de a nd Le ad Po i so ning ” – br oc hu r e pr od uce d i n E ng li sh/ S pa n i sh, pr ov i d i n g st ep s to li m i t p est i c i de ex po sur e t o c hildr en ;

• “ Read th eL ab e l F i rst” – com m un i ty a ct i on k i t, con ta i n i ng t r a i n i ng m ate r ia l s fo r use i n he i g ht en i ng a war en ess a b ou t p est i c i d e p o i so ni ng s

. I n a dd i t i on , po ste rs , m ag ne ts,
an d b oo km ar ks wer e pr od uce d;

14• Nati on a l Hi s pa n i c Ou tr ea ch In i t i at i ve
­ La u nch ed in 20 04 , focu se d o n r ed uc i ng r i sk i n La tino co m m un i ti es by pr ov iding p est i c i d e sa f ety info r m ati on t hr ou g h m ass com m un i catio ns
­ T V , r ad io a nd pr ess, i nc lud ing seg m en ts b roa dca st na t i on a ll y on the th r e e m aj or n etwor ks ( Uni v i s i on , T e l em un do , CNN en Espan o l

. Reach ed a bo ut 63 m i ll ion H i spa n i cs i n the U.S. an d 16 m i lli o n ho use ho l ds in L at i n A m er i ca i n 20 06

.

Per for m a nce Accoun ta bi li

ty

A ccou nt ab il ity m ech an i sm s, su ch as pe rfo r m a nce m ea sur es, ar e i m po rtan t to e nsu r e go od p rog r am m an ag em en t a nd pr ov i de an o bj ecti ve m ea ns t o d ete r m i ne i f a pr og r am ’s i nte nd ed o ut com es ar e b e i ng m et. In c i de nt d ata he l p m ea sur e t he effect i ven ess o f r i sk
m an ag e m en t a cti on s th at OPP ha s ta ken to p rote ct h um an he a l th a nd th een v i ro nm en t.

F or ex am pl e, i n EP A ’s 20 06 ­ 20 1 1 Str ate gi c Pl an , th ere a r etwo m ea sur es d ea li ng w i th hu m an i nci d en ts u n de r G oa l 4, O bj ecti ve 1 , S ub

­ obj ecti ve3:

B y 20 11
, i m pr ove th e he a l th of th ose w ho wor k i n or a rou nd pe st i c i de s b y r ea ch i ng a 50 % ta rge ted r ed uct ion i n m od er at e t o se vere i nc i de ntsfo r 6 a cute l y tox i c a gr i cu l tu r a l p est i c i d es w i th the h i gh est in ci de n t r at es: ch l o r pyr i fos; d i az i no n; m al ath i on ; pyr et hr i ns; 2, 4­ d i ch olo rop he no xyace ti c acid ( 2, 4­ D); an d ca r bo fu r an

. [Baseli ne s est ab li she d us i ng PC C­ T E S S ( NP DS ) d at a fo r 19 99 – 2 00 3 an d up da te s t hr ou g h 20 0 4­ 20 0 5 w i th 20 06

­ 2 00 7 d ata ex pe cted i n e a r l y 20 0 8.]

T hr ou gh 2 01 1, p rot ectt ho se o ccu pa t i on a ll y e x po sed to pe st i c i de s by i m pr oving up on o r m ai nt ain ing a r ate o f 3 .5 i nc i d en ts p e r 10 0,0 00 po ten tia l r i sk eve nts. [Baseli ne s est ab li she d us i ng d ata from PC C­T E S S ( NP DS ) as of M ay 2 00 7, an d E P A ’s ea r li er 1 99 2 Reg ula tory Im pa ct Anal ysis for th e W o r ker Prot ect i on S tan da rd a nd U.S. Depa rtm en t o f L ab or up da tes]

T he fi rst m ea sur e i s m ea ntto g au ge OPP ’s ef forts to i m pr ove th e h ea l th of th ose w ho
wor k w i th o r ar ou nd s i x acu tel y to x i c pe st i c i d e s w i th the h i gh est i nc i de n t r ate s. It i s OPP ’s i nt en t to r ea li zea 50 % r e du ct i on i n th e nu m be r of m od er ate to s eve r e incide nts for th ese si x a cut e l y tox i c ag r i cu l t ur a l p est i c i d es b y 20 11 as a resu l t o f the r i sk
m an ag e m en t d eci sion s th at OPP ha s m ad e a nd i si m pl em en ti ng f or th ese pe st i c i d es. Revi ews o f t he n um be r of occu pa t i on a l i nc i de nts for th ese s i x che m i cal s w il l he l p O P P de ter m i ne i f t he r i sk r e du ct i on act i on s ta ken i n th e r e r eg i strat i on p roce ss h ave ha d th e i nte nd ed e ffe ct a nd to take ad d i t ion a l act i o n i f ap pr op r i ate

. W h ile OPP i s i nt en t up on r ed uc i n g t he i nc ide n ts a ssoc i ate d w i th th ese s i x pe st i c i de s, i t i s a l so i m po rta nttom on i tor a ll ot he r i nc i d en ts to m ake sur e t ha t th e nu m be r of incide nts
ove r a ll d oe sn ot i nc r ea se. T he fi rst m ea sur e l isted fr om th e Str ate g i c P l an i s i nt en de d to m on i to r th e r at e of o ccup at i on a l i nc i d en ts toen sur e t ha t th e e stab li sh ed l eve l o f pr ote ct i on i sm ai nt ain ed o r i m pr ove d u po n o v er t i m e.

15E nfo r cem en t

E nfo r cem en t d at a ar e use fu l i n p rov i d i ng info r m ati on on inc i de nts t ha t h av e p reviou s l y be en r e po rte d an d
, i n som e l ess f req ue nt situ ati o ns, to i d en t i fy i nc i de nttr e nd s. I n th e fi rst inst an ce, if a n i nc i d en t i s th e r esu l t of a su spe cted v i o l at i o n o f F IF RA , a n inspe ct i on m ay b e r eq ue ste d. T h i s i nsp ect i o n ca n p rov i d e a dd i t i on a l de ta il s con cer n i ng th e i nc i de nt
, i nc l ud i n g ver i fi cat ion of t he cau se
­ eff ectli nkag e, m or e info r m ati on a bo ut t he
m ag ni tu de o f t h e ex po sur e o r th e r esu l t i ng ad verse e ffe ct.

It i s al s o po ss i b l e fo r aser i es o f i nve st i ga t ion sto po i nt towar ds i nc i d en ts th at ha veno t be en p rev i ou s l y r e po rted

. F or ex am pl e, an i n vesti g at i on resu l t i ng from a co m pl aint ab ou t sp r ay d r i f t m ay un cove r ad ve rse e ffe ctsth at wer e p r ev i o us l y un rep orted i n a ny i nc i de ntr e po rt i ng syste m

. T hr ou gh co ll ect i on an d r ev i ew of i nc i de nt info r m ati on , OPP
can he l p E P A ’s Off i ce of E nfo r cem en t a nd Co m pl i an ce M on i tor i n g t arge t i nsp ect i on s
w he r e th er e a r e po ten t i a l com pli an ce pr ob l em s, w hi ch m ay l ea d t o b r ea k i ng th e n on
com pl i an ce/ i nc ide ntcyc l e. Im pr ove m en ts t o ne ar rea l

­ t i m e NPDS p est i ci d e i nc i de nt
r ep ort i n g fo r b i ot e r ror i sm con tro l pu r po ses, r e du ced use of the m ost r i sky che m i cal s, an d i ncr e ase d em ph asi s o n p r ev en t i on of a w ider r a ng e o f m or e su btl e he a l th en d po i n ts i n an incr ea s i n gl y ag i ng po pu l at i o n w i ll m ake po ssi bl ea ne w ge ne rat i on

.
Li

m i ta ti on s o f Inci de nt Data

As di scusse d in th i s se ct i o n, ap pr op r iate us e of incide nt d ata can ass i st OPP i n a nu m be r o f ways. I t i s i m po rtan t, h oweve r , to n ote th e li m i tat i on s asso c iate d w i th i nc i de ntd ata

. T h i s un de rscor esth e i m po rta n ce o f t he li n es o f e v i d en ce a p pr oa c h u sed by O P P –w he r e ava il a b l e, i nc i de nt da tais co nsi de r ed alon g w i th oth er da ta an d i s gi ven th e p rop e r co ns i d er at i on

.
S o w ha t a r e som e of th e p rob l em s w i th i nc i de nt da ta asit i s cur r en t l y ava il a b l e? Som e of the m or e n ot ab l e li m i tat i on s i nc l u de :

Unde r r e po rt i n g – Ther e i s un do u bt ed l y som e d eg r ee of un d er rep ort i n g i n e ve ry i nc i de n t da tab ase r eg u l a r l y u sed by OPP

. T h i s u nd er rep ort i ng i s the resu l t o f a n um be r of fact ors i nc l ud ing , b ut n ot li m i ted to :

• T he l ack of a u n i ve rsa l , m an da to ry l eg a l du ty to r ep o rt;

• No ce nt r a l r ep o rt i ng p o int for a ll i nc i de nts;

• No r eq u i rem en t for a ct i ve m on i tor i ng fo r i nc i d en ts;

• S y m pt o m s asso ci at ed w i th pe st i c i de p oi s on i n gs ar e o f ten vag ue o r m i m i c ot he r cau ses l ea d i ng to i nco r r ect d i ag no s es;

• P hysi c i an s m ay al so m i sd i ag no s e d ue to a l ac k of fa m i li ar i ty w i th pe st i c i deef fect s;

• Inci d en ts a r e of te n no t inve st i ga te d a de qu ate ly en ou gh to i de nt i fy th e p est i cide tha t
cau sed th eo bse rv ed e ff ects;

• Di ffi cu l ty i n ide nt i fy i ng an d t r ack i ng ch ron i c ef f ects;

• Rel uct a nce o r i na b ili ty to r ep o rt;

• Li m i te d ge og r ap h i c co verag e fo r i nd i v i du al d at ab ase s; a n d

16• F or ecolog i ca l i nc i de n ts, d i ffi cu l ty i n ob serv ing car casse s of an i m al s po i son e d i n t he
w i l d ( m orta li ty o fte n occu rs un de r de nse veg et ati o n o r i n spa rs el y po pu l a ted a r ea s o r scave ng ers scat te r o r d evo ur the ca r cass b ef or e i t i s d i scove r ed )

.
It i s diffi cu l t t o d et er m i ne th e m ag ni tud e of un d er r ep o rt i ng

. Cli n i cal fo ll ow
­ up stu d i es i n seve r a l l oca t i o ns ha ve s ho w n t ha t 4

­ 25 % o f h um an p est i cide po i so nin g ca ses ar e r ep orted to po i son co nt ro l ce nte rs. OPP r eco g ni zes tha t a s a s i gn i fi can t i ss ue th a t m ay on l y be a dd r esse d w i th s i gn i fi can t ad d i t i on a l invest m en ts th at ar e n o t cu r r en t l y fe as i b l e.

Doub le Cou nt i n g – I t m i gh t se em a s th ou gh it wou l d b e p oss i b le to s i m pl y ad d o r sub tr act i nc i d en t n um be rs fr om di ffe r en t d ata sou r ces t o de te r m i ne th e t ot al n um be r of i nc i de nt s. T h i s se em i ng l y l og i ca l m eth od i sa ctua ll y m i s l ea d i ng be cau s e th e sam e case cou l d b e r ep orte d in m ul ti p l e da ta s ou r ce s an d, i n m an y ca ses, spe c i fi c i nfo r m ati on r eco rde d i n t h e da ta ba se i s no t a de q ua te to d ete r m i ne w he the r a p art i cu l a r case i n on e da tab ase i s th e sam e case or m er el y a s i m il ar case i n an o th er da ta ba s e. S ince da ta sou r ces ha v e d i ffe r en t p ur po s es a nd ge og r ap hi c cov er ag e, i t i s ge n er a ll y ass um ed th at
case s a r e no t d u pli cat i ve, un l esscon c l us i ve l y sho w n t o b e so by d ate , p l ac e a nd pa rt i cu l ar cir cum sta nce s of ex po sur e. W h il e i t m ay b e po ssi b l e t o m ake th i s de ter m i na t i on rou t i ne l y f or SE NS OR, Cali fo r n ia d ata , NPD S da ta, an d c li n i ca l ca s es r ep orted i n th e op e n l iter at ur e, i t i s m or e d i ffi c ul t f or IDS and NP IC. W h en a va il a ble
, NP IC d oe s r eco rd na m e, ad dr ess, an d p h on e nu m be r of th e a ffe cted i nd i v i du al, t he E P A r eg i str at ion n um be r , n am e, an d a ct i ve i n gr ed i en t of the pr od uct, an d t he ci r cum sta nce s o f t h e i nc i de nt.

Resou r ces – C ollect i on o f incide ntd ata , p art i c ul a r l y eco l og i ca l da ta, take s s i gn i fi ca nt
r eso ur ce s. T h i slea ds toa li m i ted nu m be r o f in ci de nt s be i n g r ep orted pe r yea r , eve n i n the be st syst em

. In a dd i t i o n, li m i ted r eso u r ce s atth e fe de r a l l ev e l ha ve hind ered OPP ’s efforts t o i m pr ove d at a co ll ect i on an d u s e a nd i n p rov i d i ng fun d i ng fo r ex i sting i nc i de n t da ta sou r ces.

Co m pl et en ess/Usef u l ne ss of Data – T h i s i s a ge ne r a l cat eg o ry th at cove rs avar i ety of sho rtcom i ng s w i th m uch of th e a va il a ble i nc i d en t d ata

. As m en ti on ed ea r li er , s eve r a l
sou r ces of incide ntd at a a r e p r i m ar il y d esig ne d t o d i ssem i na te i nfo r m ati on on pe st i c i de s an d n otto co ll ectp est i cide i nc i de nt da ta

. As a r esu l t, t he d at a from th ese sou r ces m ay be lacking i n su ffi cien t d e ta il

. I n m an y case s, w he n a n i nc i de nt i s r e po rted use ful i nfo r m at i on su ch as th e e xact prod uct t ha t was t he sou r ce o f t he ex po sur e, t he am ou nt of pe st i c i de i nv ol v ed , o r th e c ircu m stan ces a r e o m i tte d. In m an y case s th ere i s no t
en ou gh i nf or m at i on tode te r m i ne i f the ad v ers e e ffe cts n ote d w er e i n fact th e r esu l t o f pe sti c i d e ex po sur e a nd no t an oth er co ntr i bu t ing fact or

.

17

## S **ec t**  **i on**  **3: W**  **hat D**  **oes I**  **nc i**  **dent D**  **at a T**  **ell U**  **s?**

F or th e r ea s on s li ste d ab ove , i t i svery d i f fi c ult to r ea ch pr ec i secon c l us i on s ba sed on i nc i de ntd ata

. F o r e xam pl e, esti m ati ng ho w m an y o ccup at ion a ll y­ rela ted p est i c i de po i so n i ng i nc i de nt s o ccu r i n t he Un i te d S ta te s r esu l ts i n n um be rs a s var i ed as t he da ta sou r ces th em sel ves. Na t i on a l d ata from th e A m er i can Associ at i o n o f Po i son C on tro l Cent ers i nd i ca te s th at the a nswer m ay be 1 00 0 –20 00 fo r 9 0,3 41 con sum er r ep or ted
ex po sur es in 2 00 6

. T h e r an ge rea che s b etw ee n 1 50 0

­ 60 0 0 i f l oo k i ng a t SE NS OR da ta on ha nd l e rs a nd ag r i cu l tu r a l wor kers extrap olat ed to t he en t i r e U,S

,
W h en th e U.S . De p artm en t o f L ab or ’s 19 99 N at i o na l Agr i cu l tu r a l W or ke rs’ S urvey ( NA W S ) a sked wor kers i f th ey ha d b e en po i so ne d b y pe s ti c ides i n t h e p r ev i o us ye a r an d 1 .4 % o f t he e st i m ate d 1 .8 m i lli on f ar m wor kers ( or 25 ,20 0 wor kers ) sa i d “ yes. ” Howeve r , t he n um be r was 1 0,0 00 ­ 40 ,00 0 w he n O P P est i m ate d a gr i cu l tu r a l wor ker po i so n i ng s i n t he 1 99 2 W or ke r Prot ect ion Sta nd ar d Re gu l ato ry Im pa ct Anal ys i s. As ha s be en n ot ed , e ac h est i m ate ha s li m i tat i on s. F o r ex a m pl e, OPP ’s an a l ys i s i s ha m pe r ed by t he i na d eq ua cy of n at i o na l pe st i c i de po i son i ng s urve ill an ce , w hi ch h as be en cr i t i c i ze d on se v er a l o ccasio ns b y t he Go ve r n m en t Accoun ti ng Offi ce. T he s e con si d er at i o ns do n ot m ake a p art i cu l a r a nswer to th e “ ho w m an y?” qu estio n w ron g o r r i g ht, b ut p er ha ps m or e o r l ess u s efu l de p en d ing on th e i nte nd ed use for t he an swer

A l l of th i s se rves top o i nt o ut the com pl ex i ty o f de ter m i n i ng th e n um be r of pe st i c i de

r elat ed i nc i d en ts, w he the r the y a r e occu p at i on al o r r es ide nt i a l i n n atu re o r w he the r th ey i m pa ct h um an h ea l th o r th e e nv i ron m en t. A l th ou gh OPP wou l d prefe r to ha vea prec i se nu m be r o f i nc i de nt s i n eve ry cat e go ry o f i nte rest, th e fact i s th at the p rog ram ’s succe ss i s no t d ep e nd en t up on t h i s pr ec i s i o n. M or e i m po rtan t tha n t he prec i sion of t h i s nu m be r i s an u nd e rsta nd i n g of th e m ag ni tud e of the prob l em

.
A l on g w i th th e m ag ni tu d e, r e li a ble tr e nd i nfo r m ati on i s a l so ar gu ab l y m or e i m po rtan t tha n g rea te r p r ec i s i on

. F o r ex am pl e, assu m e the r e w er e 2 0 incide nts r ep o rted l ast yea r

. Is t h i s n um be r d ow n f rom 10 0 f i ve yea rs a go o r up from 5 i ncid en ts two yea rs ag o? T he se d i ff er en t t r e nd s wou l d no do u bt lead OPP to d i ffe r en t r i sk m an ag em en t de ci s i o ns. P r ec i se l y co un t i ng i nc iden ts i s n ot OPP ’s go al ; rath e r , t he ulti m at e go a l i s to
m i ni m i ze th e occu r r en ce of i nc i de nts

. E very inci de nta vo i d ed fu rthe rsOPP ’s m i ssi o n o f pr ote ct i ng h um an h ea l t h a nd the en v iro nm en t.

T he p r act i ca l i m pl i cat ion i s th at OPP m ust pe r for m a ba l an c i ng actw i th li m i ted
r eso ur ce s. OPP m ustba l an ce t h e r es ou r ces spe nt on ga the r ing an d m an ag i ng i nc i d en t i nfo r m at i on to i nc r ea se t he p r ec i s i on ag a i nst t he r eso u r ces n ee de d to preve nt o r m i ti ga te p o te nt i a l fu tu r e incide nts. T he two p erfor m an ce a ccou nta b ili ty m ea sur es O P P i nc l ud ed i n th e S tr at e gi c Pl an r efl ect th i s ba l a nci ng act( s ee Sect i on 2’s “ P erfo r m an ce A ccou nt ab il ity” se ct i o n)

.

18

## C **onclu s**  **i on** 

OPP i s cu r ren t l y co ns i d er i ng ho w be st to m an ag e a nd ut i li z e i nc i de nt da ta. T h i s pr oce ss i nc l ud es exam i ni ng i nte r na l p roce sse s, d ata sou r ces, a nd cur r en t pr oce du r es. T he p rog r am w i ll co nt i nu e t o p er i od i ca ll y u pd a te i tssta keh o lder s o n o ur act i v i t i es i n t h i s ar ea

.

19