July 18, 2013
NAAA eNewsletter

Study: Pesticide Workers Have Lower Cancer Mortality Than General Population

If you want to generate news, an almost surefire way to garner headlines and media attention is to come out with a study associating something with a higher risk or incidence of cancer. If you don’t want to appear on the crawl at the bottom of CNN, a great way to ensure a media blackout is to do just the opposite—come out with a study that turns conventional wisdom on its ear by reporting that pesticide applicators have a lower incidence of cancer mortality than the general population. 
 
Those counterintuitive results are exactly what Great Britain’s Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) found in its Pesticide Users Health Study (PUHS), which examined mortality among commercial pesticide applicators and other workers with chronic occupational exposure to pesticides between 1987 and 2005. During that timeframe there were 1,628 deaths among 59,085 male and 3,875 female pesticide users. Compared with the population of Great Britain, the pesticide workers had statistically significant lower than expected mortality from all causes of death, and in particular from all cancers combined. 
 
The study found that mortality from major disease groups, including all cancers combined, cancers of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, cancers of the digestive organs, cancers of the respiratory system, non-malignant diseases of the nervous system and sense organs, and non-malignant diseases of the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems, were statistically significantly lower than mortality in the Great Britain population. It did not take other lifestyle factors into consideration. Nevertheless, the study’s authors speculate that the “healthy worker effect, and higher occupational physical activity levels and lower smoking rates in this group of workers, may explain these lower than expected mortality rates to some degree.”
 
The PUHS found some evidence of excess deaths from multiple myeloma in men and women, and possibly also from testicular cancer, but the evidence from the mortality analysis for these excess deaths was “relatively weak,” the study’s authors noted. The authors point out that the overall findings are limited due to the fact that only information on mortality and cancer incidence among the pesticide users was available. The authors note that a significant number of non-life threatening diseases, such as respiratory diseases, may be associated with pesticide exposure and agricultural work where most exposure occurs. They suggested that a general health survey of the pesticide users would be of value and help determine the occurrence and associated risk factors of various health conditions among the pesticide users. None of these factors, however, should detract from the main headline, which is to say that a new study finds British pesticide workers have lower cancer mortality than the general population. 
 
The Competitive Enterprise Institute had an interesting take on the Pesticide Users Health Study. “Does this mean that working in the pesticide industry reduces your cancer risks?” CEI blogger Angela Logomasini wrote. “Not really, but it does raise questions about activist claims about cancer risks posed by pesticides, particularly when they suggest that consumers, who have much lower exposures than workers, face substantial risks.” Furthermore, she added, “there’s little evidence that pesticides are a significant cause of cancer even among some of the most exposed populations. There is plenty of evidence, on the other hand, that these products serve important public health and agricultural values.”
 

The HSL is an agency of the U.K.’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is similar in scope to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. The independent regulator seeks to reduce work-related death and serious injury across British workplaces. The PUHS included men and women who have been certified to apply pesticides on a commercial basis in Great Britain and who agreed to take part in HSE’s research into their health. 

Pratt & Whitney Canada Pledges New PT6A-34AG to NAAA Live Auction

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), a regular contributor to NAAA’s annual Live Auction, has made a notable donation to this year’s auction: a PT6A-34AG engine. The gift coincides with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the iconic PT6 engine family.


“We are very proud that the PT6 engine has helped change the face of modern aviation,” said Denis Parisien, Vice President, General Aviation, P&WC. “Its simplicity of design, versatility and dependability have made it one of the most enduring engines in aviation history. And thanks to the unmatched reliability and durability of the PT6A engine family, P&WC has gained an increasing presence in the agricultural aviation segment. As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, it was important to us to make this contribution to NAAA’s Live Auction.”

“The Live Auction is a key fundraising initiative for NAAA,” NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore said. “Pratt & Whitney Canada’s commitment to the ag industry and NAAA’s initiatives has enabled us to raise record dollar amounts, which provide income for NAAA projects and programs. We can’t thank them enough for their support.”

 

P&WC has a history of generous contributions to the Live Auction. In 2011 and 2012, the company donated two Hot Section Inspection certificates. P&WC also provided a new PT6A-34AG engine in 2010. P&WC also provided a rebuilt engine in 2005 and a new PT6A-34AG engine in 2010. “We hope this year’s pledge of a PT6A-34AG will contribute to establishing a new bidding record!” Parisien said.

 

For more on P&WC’s 50th anniversary celebration, visit PT6Nation.com, which features a series of articles on the PT6 engine, a brand-new eStore and a number of interactive initiatives, including a new mobile application designed to give P&WC’s 10,000 engine operators instant access to a host of services on wireless handheld, tablet and laptop devices. 

Thrush 510G to Perform at Oshkosh

Thrush Aircraft announced a new Thrush 510G will be performing at EAA AirVenture at Wittnam Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., this year to showcase the unique abilities of the aircraft. The airplane will be flown by Thrush’s chief instructor pilot, Terry Humphrey, a highly experienced ag pilot. Humphrey’s demonstration will highlight ag aviation in front of more than 500,000 airshow attendees.

The Oshkosh aviation event runs from July 29 through Aug. 4.The Thrush flight performances are scheduled on July 30 and Aug. 1. To prepare for this performance, Thrush partnered with Ed Hamill, an airshow pilot and F-16 instructor at Luke Air Force Base, to develop a routine to properly demonstrate the capabilities of the current generation ag airplane. Hamill has performed at Oshkosh several times in the past. The routine, which must be approved by EAA and the FAA, should be entertaining but above all must be safe.

EAA has dubbed AirVenture as “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” and this year’s event promises not to disappoint. The show will feature flying by some of the best aerobatic pilots, warbirds, homebuilts and military aircraft. Best of all, AirVenture should portray ag aviation and its vital role in an exciting, entertaining and informative light.

Google Invests in Airborne Wind Turbine Designed for Offshore Wind Farms

A new potential obstacle and concern for aerial applicators is the development of “flying” wind turbines. This technology uses a “tethered kite” with the tether being the electrical conduit from the generator to the ground. The theory is that wind velocity is higher and more consistent at higher altitudes and this technology would take advantage of those characteristics. This poses great concern because of the “flying” turbine’s capability to literally lift from the ground as wind speeds allocate. Early last year NAAA submitted aerial application safety concerns to the FAA in an answer filed in response to its “Notice of policy and request for information” on potential effects of Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) to the airspace.
 
Google is capitalizing on this new technology and touting a new airborne wind turbine device that a company executive described as a “long tether attached to blades” that generates power by flying in large circles. A benefit of this approach, the executive said, is that it would be “radically cheaper and easier to deploy than a normal wind turbine.” From the looks of this picture, the tethered apparatus seems like it would be exceedingly difficult to see from the air. Fortunately for ag pilots, the flying wind turbine from Makani Power is being considered more for offshore wind energy facilities than land use. Google recently acquired California-based Makani Power, which specializes in utilizing robotics for generating electricity. For more information on Makani’s airborne wind turbine, click here. 
 

NAAA will continue to monitor the development and subsequent use of AWES to ensure the safety of low-level aviation.

Thank You for Your Service, Danna Kelemen

After approximately two and three-quarter years of service to NAAA, Danna Kelemen is changing course and will be leaving the association the middle of August. She has decided to return to being a stay-at-home mom. Her services assisting NAAA members in government relations, communications and public relations will be missed and have been greatly appreciated. Being the trooper that she is, she has offered to assist NAAA on a part-time basis, if necessary, to help until a replacement staffer can be found. NAAA has posted a Coordinator of Government and Public Relations position opening at a variety of job placement websites. Please join us in thanking Danna for her service and wishing her the best of luck in her future.

Reminder: Beware of Fraudulent Company Trying to Book NAAA Convention Hotel Rooms

As a reminder, NAAA has received notification that an independent third party company named Exhibitors Housing Services (EHS) is contacting NAAA Trade Show exhibitors to book hotel space through their company. NAAA has sent a cease and desist letter to EHS from contacting anyone associated with NAAA. The Silver Legacy Resort has informed NAAA that they do not work with this company, do not have a room block for EHS, and do not offer the hotel room rates that EHS is offering. No one from the Silver Legacy, or on behalf of the hotel, will contact you to book a hotel room. NAAA recommends making your own hotel reservations to the Silver Legacy by clicking the link below and informing EHS to never call you or your company again if you’re contacted. 
 
The headquarters hotel for the NAAA Convention & Exposition this Dec. 9–12 is the Silver Legacy. As a reminder, you will receive complimentary transportation, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, between the Silver Legacy and Convention Center during the show.
 
Hotel Details
Silver Legacy
407 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89501
Rate: $75/night + tax for Standard Room (single or double)
 

Click here to make your reservations online or call 1-800-687-8733 and give Reservation Code NAAA13. The hotel reservation cutoff for the NAAA block rate is Nov. 6, 2013.

Register for Convention Today! Convention Schedule Correction in July/August Agricultural Aviation

Please note a mistake on the NAAA Convention Schedule in the July/August issue of Agricultural Aviation on pg. 24. The CD Aviation Seminar and Pratt & Whitney Session will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, not Thursday, Dec. 12. The actual seminar times are as follows:
Sunday, December 8
8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.   CD Aviation Seminar
9 a.m.–4 p.m.         P&WC PT6 Seminar
The full convention schedule can be viewed here.

Register Online for NAAA Convention Today

This year's convention is packed with a schedule full of networking and social events, educational sessions, and the world’s largest agricultural aviation trade show with a variety of aircraft. Register for the NAAA Convention today! 

Donate an Item or Service for the Auction

Support the aerial application industry and get your company name seen to NAAA Convention attendees by donating an auction item to NAAA, WNAAA or both organizations. The earlier you make a donation, the more exposure you’ll get. In exchange for contributing to the NAAA/WNAAA auctions, we will showcase your company’s contribution to the aerial application industry in Reno and in the period leading up to the convention on the website and in future NAAA publications. 
 

Donated auction items provide income for association projects and programs. To donate an auction item, fill out a form, or email lbarber@agaviation.org. Big-ticket items are usually reserved for the Live Auction, with smaller items allocated for the Silent Auction, but final determinations are made onsite once all the offerings have been inventoried.