Greater Risks, Fewer Rights: U.S. Farmworkers and Pesticides

Abstract

Pesticide Action Network, United Farmworkers of America, and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation analyzed California government data on agricultural poisonings and enforcement of worker safety standards. Nearly 500 pesticide poisonings were reported for California farmworkers every year from 1997 to 2000. The actual number of pesticide-related illnesses is unknown, since many poisonings go unreported. Most poisonings occurred as a result of soil fumigation and pesticide applications to grapes, oranges, and cotton. Pesticide drift accounted for 51% of the cases, and another 25% resulted from exposures to pesticide residues. Violations of worker safety laws were common, contributing to 41% of reported poisonings. No violations occurred in another 38%, indicating that existing laws inadequately protect workers from pesticide exposure. This snapshot of human rights abuse through pesticide exposure in California—the site of some of the world's most stringent pesticide use and worker safety laws—illustrates the global problem of pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers.

Keywords:

• human rights
• farmworkers
• pesticides
• worker safety laws
• agricultural poisonings