Pesticide Take-Home Pathways, Storage, and Application Methods Among Hmong Farmers in Central Valley, California

ABSTRACT

Objective

Pesticide exposure via take-home pathways is a major health concern among farmers. However, little is known about the effects of pesticide take-home pathways on small-scale Hmong farmers in the Central Valley. This study explored factors that contribute to pesticide exposure via the take-home pathway among small-scale Hmong farmers in the Central Valley.

Methods

Detailed ethnographic observations of small-scale farms and corresponding homes were coupled with in-depth qualitative interviews with Hmong farmers to assess the extent of the pesticide take-home pathway.

Results

The study found daily challenges and numerous ways that pesticide particles may be introduced into farmers’ homes. Given the paucity of research about Hmong farmers’ pesticide take-home pathways, the study’s findings advance the scholarship on pesticide exposures in the Hmong farmer community.

Conclusion

This study advocates for more culturally and linguistically appropriate pesticide exposure training and educational programs tailored to Hmong farmers in the United States.

KEYWORDS:

• Hmong farmers
• pesticide exposure
• take-home pathways
• pesticide safety training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In early resettlement, Hmong were dispersed in many parts of the country (e.g. Montana) and made their way to California’s Central Valley in search of warmer climates and land to farm.²⁰

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.