Stylized map of California overlaid with pesticide application data, highlighting waterways and crops.

Decoding Pesticides: How to Protect Your Health and the Environment

Theo Raines in Climate & Environment June 2025 • 3 min read.

"A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) Data and Its Impact on Your Community"

Have you ever wondered about the chemicals being used on the crops around you, or how they might affect your water supply? Pesticides play a significant role in modern agriculture, but their use raises important questions about environmental and human health. Understanding the details of pesticide application is crucial for making informed decisions and advocating for responsible practices.

California, a major agricultural hub, has implemented a comprehensive system for tracking pesticide use. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) collects detailed information on every pesticide application across the state. This data, known as Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) data, offers a wealth of insights into the types, quantities, and locations of pesticides being used. However, accessing and interpreting this data can be challenging.

This guide will walk you through the complexities of PUR data, explain how to access it, and provide practical tips for understanding its implications. We'll explore how tools like PURwebGIS are making this information more accessible and empowering individuals and communities to take action.

Unlocking the Power of PUR Data

Stylized map of California overlaid with pesticide application data, highlighting waterways and crops.

The CDPR's PUR database is a unique resource, providing details on pesticide applications down to the level of individual fields. Since 1990, California has maintained this detailed record, capturing information about what pesticides are used, where they are applied, and when. This level of detail is invaluable for researchers, policymakers, and concerned citizens alike.

The PUR database includes 32 different data fields, offering a comprehensive view of pesticide use. These fields include information on:

Chemicals used
Crops treated
Application method (aerial, ground, etc.)
Location identifiers

With approximately 200 million pounds of pesticides applied in California each year, the PUR data represents a massive dataset. Analyzing this data can reveal trends in pesticide use, identify potential environmental risks, and inform strategies for reducing pesticide exposure.

Empowering Informed Action

Understanding pesticide use is a critical step towards protecting our health and the environment. By leveraging the power of PUR data and tools like PURwebGIS, we can gain valuable insights, advocate for responsible practices, and create healthier communities for ourselves and future generations. Explore the resources mentioned in this guide, and become an informed advocate for a more sustainable future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1021/bk-2018-1283.ch021, Alternate LINK

Title: Purwebgis: A Web Application For Query And Analysis Of Pesticide Use Report (Pur) Data

Journal: ACS Symposium Series

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Authors: Christopher Demars, Minghua Zhang

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) data, and who collects it?

Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) data is collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). It provides detailed information on pesticide applications across California, including the types and quantities of pesticides used, the locations where they are applied, and the crops that are treated. This comprehensive data helps in understanding the patterns and impacts of pesticide use.

How many data fields does the PUR database contain, and what kind of information do these fields include?

The PUR database maintained by the CDPR contains 32 different data fields. These fields capture extensive information, including the specific chemicals used, the crops that were treated with these chemicals, the method of application (such as aerial or ground spraying), and precise location identifiers for the application sites. These details are crucial for thorough analysis.

How does PURwebGIS make PUR data more accessible, and what benefits does it offer?

PURwebGIS enhances the accessibility of PUR data by presenting it in a geographic context. This tool allows users to visualize pesticide application data on maps, making it easier to identify areas with high pesticide use, assess potential environmental risks, and understand how pesticide use varies across different regions. The geographic representation aids in quicker and more intuitive data interpretation.

What types of insights can be gained from analyzing PUR data, and how can these insights be used?

Analyzing PUR data can reveal trends in pesticide use over time, identify potential environmental risks associated with specific pesticides or application practices, and inform the development of strategies to reduce pesticide exposure. By understanding these trends and risks, researchers, policymakers, and community members can advocate for more sustainable and responsible pesticide management practices. However, PUR data does not directly provide toxicity levels or health impact assessments; this requires further research and integration with other datasets.

How does understanding PUR data empower individuals and communities, and what actions can they take with this knowledge?

Understanding PUR data empowers individuals and communities to make informed decisions about pesticide use in their local areas. With access to this data, people can advocate for policies that promote safer alternatives, reduce pesticide exposure, and protect both human health and the environment. The data can also be used to hold applicators and regulatory bodies accountable for responsible pesticide management, though it is important to note that PUR data only provides information on pesticide application, not on compliance or enforcement actions.