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Occupational behaviors and farmworkers' pesticide exposure: Findings from a study in monterey county, California
Author(s) -
Salvatore Alicia L.,
Bradman Asa,
Castorina Rosemary,
Camacho José,
López Jesús,
Barr Dana B.,
Snyder John,
Jewell Nicholas P.,
Eskenazi Brenda
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20622
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , pesticide , toxicology , chlorpyrifos , malathion , occupational exposure , psychological intervention , personal protective equipment , occupational safety and health , ecology , nursing , disease , covid-19 , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
Background We studied the relationship between behaviors promoted through the US Environmental Protection Agency Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and other programs and agricultural pesticide exposures in 73 strawberry fieldworkers employed in Monterey County, California. Methods Farmworkers' behaviors were assessed via self‐report and organophosphorus (OP) pesticide exposure was measured using dimethyl alkylphosphate (DMAP) and malathion dicarboxylic acid (MDA) urinary metabolite levels. Results Wearing WPS‐recommended clothing, wearing clean work clothes, and the combination of handwashing with soap and wearing gloves were associated with decreases in DMAP and MDA metabolite levels. Despite these protective behaviors, however, participants had significantly higher levels of exposure as compared with a national reference sample. Conclusions Interventions that facilitate compliance with these behaviors may be effective in decreasing fieldworkers' pesticide exposures. However, further efforts are needed to reduce the exposure disparities experienced by farmworkers and decrease the potential for “take home” exposures to farmworkers' families. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:782–794, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.