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Migrant Farmworkers’ Exposure to Pesticides in Sonora, Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolás López-Gálvez

    (Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA)

  • Rietta Wagoner

    (Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA)

  • Paloma Beamer

    (Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA)

  • Jill De Zapien

    (Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA)

  • Cecilia Rosales

    (Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA)

Abstract

Expanding agribusiness in Sonora, a state in Northern Mexico, has increased the demand for temporary migrant agricultural workers. Sonora is one of the top states in Mexico for pesticide utilization. We conducted an exploratory study to evaluate exposure to organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid pesticides among migrant farmworkers. A sample of 20 migrant farmworkers was recruited from a large commercial grape farm during the harvest season. We administered a questionnaire on work activities, exposure characteristics, and socio-demographics. We collected urine samples to quantify pesticide metabolite concentrations. Most participants were originally from the state of Chiapas, Mexico, none had completed high school, and about half spoke an indigenous language as well as Spanish. The majority of participants had detectable concentrations of pyrethroid and organophosphate biomarkers. Geometric mean creatinine-adjusted concentrations for 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (1.83 µg/g), trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (0.88 µg/g), 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (0.94 µg/g), 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (3.56 µg/g), and para-nitrophenol (0.63 µg/g) were significantly higher than in the general United States’ population and Mexican Americans. Our results also suggest that migrant farmworkers in this region are exposed to pesticides at higher levels than other farmworkers’ studies. Farmworkers’ age, language, training on personal protective equipment, time at the farm, and season, were significant exposure determinants.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolás López-Gálvez & Rietta Wagoner & Paloma Beamer & Jill De Zapien & Cecilia Rosales, 2018. "Migrant Farmworkers’ Exposure to Pesticides in Sonora, Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2651-:d:185545
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    Cited by:

    1. Cynthia L. Curl & Lisa Meierotto & Rebecca L. Som Castellano, 2020. "Understanding Challenges to Well-Being among Latina FarmWorkers in Rural Idaho Using in an Interdisciplinary, Mixed-Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13, December.

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