Gender differences in acute pesticide‐related illnesses and injuries among farmworkers in the United States, 1998–2007

Kasner, Edward J.; Keralis, Jessica; Mehler, Louise; Beckman, John; Bonnar-Prado, Joanne; Lee, Soo Jeong; Diebolt-Brown, Brienne; Mulay, Prakash; Lackovic, Michelle; Waltz, Justin; Schwartz, Allan B.; Mitchell, Yvette; Moraga-McHaley, Stephanie; Roisman, Rachel; Gergely, Rita; Calvert, Geoffrey M.

doi:10.1002/ajim.22052

Cited by 25 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…23 The tool contained a number of items evaluating the presence of powder or liquid pesticides, as well as whether or not workers were involved in pesticide mixing and/or application. Where pesticides were applied, the application method (“mechanical,” “handthrown,” or “spray”) was recorded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safety and Health Hazard Observations in Hmong Farming Operations

Neitzel

Krenz

Castro

2014

Journal of Agromedicine

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Agricultural workers have a high risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. However, there are very few standardized tools available to assess safety and health in agricultural operations. Additionally, there are a number of groups of agricultural workers, including Hmong refugees and immigrants, for which virtually no information on safety and health conditions is available. This study developed an observation-based methodology for systematically evaluating occupational health and safety hazards in agriculture, and pilot-tested this on several small-scale Hmong farming operations. Each observation assessed of range of safety and health hazards (e.g., musculoskeletal hazards, dust and pollen, noise, and mechanical hazards), as well as on factors such as type of work area, presence of personal protective equipment, and weather conditions. Thirty-six observations were collected on nine farms. The most common hazards observed were bending at the back and lifting <50 pounds. Use of sharp tools without adequate guarding mechanisms, awkward postures, repetitive hand motions, and lifting >50 pounds were also common. The farming activities observed involved almost no power equipment, and no pesticide or chemical handling was observed. The use of personal protective equipment was uncommon. The results of this assessment agreed well with a parallel study of perceived safety and health hazards among Hmong agricultural workers. This study suggests that small-scale Hmong farming operations involve a variety of hazards, and that occupational health interventions may be warranted in this community. The study also demonstrates the utility of standardized assessment tools and mixed-method approaches to hazard evaluation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safety and Health Hazard Observations in Hmong Farming Operations

Neitzel

Krenz

Castro

2014

Journal of Agromedicine

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“…92 The work carried out by migrant farm workers is reported to be associated with a higher incidence of acute pesticide toxicity, injuries, and fatalities than the work of farmers. 89,93 The work done by migrant workers on farms is also structured through gendered division of labor, which affects the situation, safety, and health of male and female migrant workers differently depending on context. 89,94 …”

Section: Sexual Division Of Labormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…113,120-124 Hired farm workers, especially females, are reported to have a higher incidence of acute pesticide illness and injury than farmer-owners. 93 However, pesticide exposure goes beyond the occupational sphere and is brought home through clothes and dust, thereby affecting the whole family. 125−129 Wives of pesticide users have been reported to have more than twice the average risk of leukemia and three times the average risk of myeloid leukemia.…”

Section: Embodied Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…152 Among women, the tendency to report pain and illness and to seek health care is higher. 93,[153][154][155][156] The perception of safety technology and participation in prevention programmes are also gendered 57 and dependent on how women define their position on the farm. 21, 157 Due to women not being included in networks and not being acknowledged as subjects in agriculture, their access to information and safety equipment is reduced.…”

Section: Situated Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

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Gendered Agricultural Space and Safety: Towards Embodied, Situated Knowledge

Andersson

Lundqvist

2014

Journal of Agromedicine

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The changing conditions, technologies, and labor markets have shifted the gender division of labor on the farm. Women have taken on off-farm labor, but also increased their involvement in agriculture. The work and occupational risks of women have received less attention and are to great extent invisible. The spatial division between on-farm, off-farm, and domestic work is one contributing factor to the situation. The different situations and contexts of agriculture increase the need for knowledge regarding the processes and positions of farming. Through analyzing the literature on the topic, this study examined the gendered understanding of occupational health and safety in Western agriculture and how the embodied positions on the farm can affect women's exposure to risks and their knowledge about injury prevention. The findings are being discussed and framed in a dialogue with a gender theoretical framework, with the aim to produce a more comprehensive understanding of health and safety in agriculture through improving and refining methods. The review stresses the need of further gender research and the incorporation of qualitative methods, to increase the knowledge and understanding of the gendered relations, bodies, and situated knowledge of agricultural spaces.

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“…[ 10 ] Agricultural workers are at especially high risk of pesticide exposure. The annual incidence of pesticide-related illness among agricultural workers from 1998 to 2007 time period was approximately 48/100,000 [ 11 ]. This high incidence among persons employed in agriculture is of particular concern for Hispanics, because 88 % of all farm workers in the USA are Hispanic.…”

Section: Work-related Pesticide Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Health Issues

Ramirez

Thompson

Vela

2013

The South Texas Health Status Review

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A broad range of different environmental exposures can cause health problems including air and water pollution, exposure to lead and other heavy metals, pesticides and chemicals, and many more. This chapter covers two main environmental exposure health status indicators: elevated child blood lead levels and pesticide exposures. Childhood Lead PoisoningLead is a signifi cant and widespread environmental hazard for all Texas children. Exposure to lead can lead to a number of medical conditions including long-term neurological damage that is often associated with learning and behavioral problems. Blood lead levels ≥10 μg/dL are considered to be elevated, although a child may often not show symptoms, even at higher levels. Very elevated lead levels can result in death. Lead is a ubiquitous toxin with varied exposure sources including dust or chips from lead-based paints, contaminated soil, crafts/hobbies, and home remedy/ folk medicines.With increased awareness and efforts to reduce exposure, childhood lead poisoning has decreased in recent years. In 2005, 54,051 US children aged 6 or younger tested with confi rmed elevated blood lead levels, compared to 24,375 children in 2009, a decrease of 55 % in 5 years [ 1 ]. Children aged 6 or younger are at greater risk of lead poisoning than older children due to increased absorption, predominant hand-to-mouth behavior, and developing neurological systems. Among US children younger than 6 in 1999-2004, African-American children had a higher percentage of elevated blood lead levels (3.4 %) than did Hispanic children (1.2 %) or nonHispanic white children (1.2 %) [ 2 ]. Children who live or spend a signifi cant amount of time in pre-1950s housing are at increased risk of childhood lead poisoning. Poverty and living in an area of existing high childhood lead prevalence are also considered surrogate markers for a child's potential lead exposure risk.

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Gender differences in acute pesticide‐related illnesses and injuries among farmworkers in the United States, 1998–2007

Cited by 25 publications

References 29 publications

Safety and Health Hazard Observations in Hmong Farming Operations

Safety and Health Hazard Observations in Hmong Farming Operations

Gendered Agricultural Space and Safety: Towards Embodied, Situated Knowledge

Environmental Health Issues

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