Hispanic Adolescent Farmworkers’ Perceptions Associated with Pesticide Exposure1

Abstract

The migrant farmworker population in the United States is a vulnerable and understudied population whose characteristics are constantly shifting. The number of youth involved in agriculture work is increasing, and they, in particular, may be at increased risk for occupational hazards, such as pesticide exposure. The present study utilized an ecological framework for focus group discussions with 33 adolescent migrant farmworkers in Oregon. Adolescents' risk perception and health beliefs associated with pesticide exposure are examined on four levels of environmental influence: microenvironment, organizational environment, social/community environment, and macroenvironment. Adolescents provided insight on such topics as perceived vulnerability of illness due to pesticide exposure, attitudes toward farmwork, influence of their boss, knowledge of occupational hazards, safety training, and barriers to occupational choice. Cultural influences on occupational safety and health are discussed and increased attention to safety training is recommended.

Surveillance Data on Pesticide and Agricultural Chemical Releases and Associated Public Health Consequences in Selected US States, 2003–2007

“…Other known behavioral factors linked with exposure to pesticides and agricultural chemicals include the storage of these chemicals in containers other than the original labeled container and cross contamination due to not laundering field clothes separately [13][14][15]. This analysis found that over half of the pesticide-and agricultural chemical-related events were due to human error and could have resulted from these behavioral factors.…”

Use and management of pesticides in greenhouses in the northern region of the state of Puebla, Mexico

“…Se ha demostrado que en muchos casos la mezcla de dos plaguicidas del mismo o distinto grupo provoca mayor efecto en plagas y enfermedades, resultado de la suma de las acciones individuales de cada uno de ellos por separado. Este mecanismo llega a destruir no sólo a los insectos nocivos, sino también a los benéficos, por la aplicación de un tratamiento intenso (Garaj & Zeljezic, 2001;Salazar, Napolitano, Scherer & McCauley, 2004). El uso de mezclas de plaguicidas también fue reportado por Gómez et al (2000) y Martínez et al (2009), que se aplicaron en invernaderos en el estado de Morelos y en campos agrícolas del norte de Sinaloa.…”

Qualitative environmental health research: an analysis of the literature, 1991-2008

“…Although not referred to as an analytic framework per se, the theory of neighborhoods affecting health was explored in seven articles (Bowie et al 2005;Israel et al 2006;Michael et al 2006;Schaefer-McDaniel 2007;Songsore and McGranahan 1998;Timmermans 2007;Warr et al 2007). Other theoretical perspectives referred to in the analyses include ecological theory (Salazar et al 2004;Schaefer-McDaniel 2007) and social constructionism (Moffatt and PlessMulloli 2003;Shriver 2001;Shriver et al 1998). Two articles referred to the environmental stress and coping literature as an analytic framework (Haines et al 2003;Wakefield et al 2001).…”