Washington agriculture officials are warning pesticide applicators about the dangers of drift and are suggesting ways to minimize the risk.

Last year, the state Department of Agriculture investigated more than 70 complaints alleging violations of the state’s pesticide laws. About half of them (34) involved allegations that pesticides had drifted onto neighboring properties. These involved both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. These drift complaint investigations resulted in four civil penalties, nine notices of correction, and four advisory/warnings issued.

To ensure that pesticides do not drift beyond the intended treatment area, pesticide applicators must:

WSDA currently licenses about 32,000 pesticide applicators, dealers, consultants, and inspectors a year. Licensees train to apply pesticides safely. When problems do occur, WSDA will investigate complaints alleging violations of the state’s pesticide laws, including cases of drift, human exposure, property damage, or environmental harm.

Some investigations involve unlicensed applicators, such as homeowners applying pesticides. Remember, pesticide is a broad term that includes herbicides, insecticides, miticides, fungicides, and more.

To file a complaint, email [email protected] or call 1-877-301-4555. WSDA also maintains and monitors a toll-free drift exposure line for farmworkers, 1-844-388-2020. Bilingual staff monitor the exposure line.

Be sure to have as much information as possible regarding the incident to share with the department or when an investigator returns the call. WSDA strives to respond to all cases of possible human exposure within 24 hours and all other complaints within 48 hours.

The state Department of Health investigates potential cases of pesticide illnesses.

Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture