Although only limited air monitoring has been performed, studies in California consistently find pesticides in air, rain and even fog. These detection efforts have only scratched the surface. Monitoring for pesticide air contaminants as part of this program, has not been done in 42 of California's 58 counties and regulators have failed to monitor for nearly 100 pesticides prioritized by the state of California for their potential to be airborne contaminants. Millions of Californians live near heavy agricultural use of known or suspected air contaminants. Many of these pesticides cause cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders or disrupt the brain and nervous system.
Agricultural pesticides are the greatest source of outdoor airborne pesticides.
Pesticides identified as federal Hazardous Air Pollutants and California candidate Toxic Air Contaminants. 1000 lbs or more per square mile per year These findings are underscored by years of complaints and illness reports from communities living near agricultural lands. In 1995 alone, California's Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program reported 300 drift-related acute poisonings. This figure is generally accepted as a gross underestimate of actual acute poisonings and does not address the risk of cancer, immune system suppression, birth defects, intelligence loss, asthma and a wide array of other injuries that may result from long-term pesticide exposure. Urban and suburban Californians may be exposed to dangerous pesticides in the air.