Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment
Agricultural exceptionalism, a system in which regular labor laws and standards do not apply to farm labor, makes migrant farmworkers particularly vulnerable populations—economically, socially, and in terms of environmental health. To address inequities inherent in migrant farmworker marginalizati...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems
2018-03-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/562 |
| _version_ | 1797761835462557696 |
|---|---|
| author | Micaela Edelson Salma Monani Rutherford V. Platt |
| author_facet | Micaela Edelson Salma Monani Rutherford V. Platt |
| author_sort | Micaela Edelson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agricultural exceptionalism, a system in which regular labor laws and standards do not apply to farm labor, makes migrant farmworkers particularly vulnerable populations—economically, socially, and in terms of environmental health. To address inequities inherent in migrant farmworker marginalization, studies advocate for actively engaging the migrant farmworker population in the conversation surrounding these issues. We conducted 40 semistructured interviews with migrant farmworkers in Adams County, Pennsylvania, to understand pesticide risk exposure perceptions and practices. We employed the Health Belief Model as our cultural risk assessment frame, using it in combination with technical risk assessment, which uses government calculations (from the Environmental Protection Agency) to quantify pesticide risk exposure. We used mixed methods analyses (quantitative and qualitative) to compare and understand farmworker demographics, perceived risk, perceived control, and risk behavior. Results show that demographics —e.g., age, education, visa status—are important factors in risk perception. They also confirm observations present in many earlier studies. While trainings and educational materials are valuable to help build awareness of risk, a systemic lack of control over their circumstances make it hard for migrant farmworkers to engage in safe behavior. Results also highlight the limitations of technical risk assessment. Such calculations, however, rarely account for risk perceptions and experiences of farmworkers themselves. Acknowledging the voices of migrant farmworkers is an essential first step in rebalancing inequities of power in our food systems, and cultural risk assessment can help frame recommendations that target different stakeholders across the pesticide regulatory spectrum to ensure migrant farmworker needs and safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:19:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-498244b83f92440bac31b2a0153d9dc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2152-0801 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:19:00Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-498244b83f92440bac31b2a0153d9dc32023-08-02T05:17:53ZengLyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food SystemsJournal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development2152-08012018-03-018110.5304/jafscd.2018.081.005562Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk AssessmentMicaela Edelson0Salma Monani1Rutherford V. Platt2Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg CollegeGettysburg CollegeAgricultural exceptionalism, a system in which regular labor laws and standards do not apply to farm labor, makes migrant farmworkers particularly vulnerable populations—economically, socially, and in terms of environmental health. To address inequities inherent in migrant farmworker marginalization, studies advocate for actively engaging the migrant farmworker population in the conversation surrounding these issues. We conducted 40 semistructured interviews with migrant farmworkers in Adams County, Pennsylvania, to understand pesticide risk exposure perceptions and practices. We employed the Health Belief Model as our cultural risk assessment frame, using it in combination with technical risk assessment, which uses government calculations (from the Environmental Protection Agency) to quantify pesticide risk exposure. We used mixed methods analyses (quantitative and qualitative) to compare and understand farmworker demographics, perceived risk, perceived control, and risk behavior. Results show that demographics —e.g., age, education, visa status—are important factors in risk perception. They also confirm observations present in many earlier studies. While trainings and educational materials are valuable to help build awareness of risk, a systemic lack of control over their circumstances make it hard for migrant farmworkers to engage in safe behavior. Results also highlight the limitations of technical risk assessment. Such calculations, however, rarely account for risk perceptions and experiences of farmworkers themselves. Acknowledging the voices of migrant farmworkers is an essential first step in rebalancing inequities of power in our food systems, and cultural risk assessment can help frame recommendations that target different stakeholders across the pesticide regulatory spectrum to ensure migrant farmworker needs and safety.https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/562Migrant FarmworkersPesticidesCultural and Technical Risk AssessmentsHealth Belief ModelPennsylvania |
| spellingShingle | Micaela Edelson Salma Monani Rutherford V. Platt Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development Migrant Farmworkers Pesticides Cultural and Technical Risk Assessments Health Belief Model Pennsylvania |
| title | Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment |
| title_full | Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment |
| title_short | Migrant Farmworkers' Perceptions of Pesticide Risk Exposure in Adams County, Pennsylvania: A Cultural Risk Assessment |
| title_sort | migrant farmworkers perceptions of pesticide risk exposure in adams county pennsylvania a cultural risk assessment |
| topic | Migrant Farmworkers Pesticides Cultural and Technical Risk Assessments Health Belief Model Pennsylvania |
| url | https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/562 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT micaelaedelson migrantfarmworkersperceptionsofpesticideriskexposureinadamscountypennsylvaniaaculturalriskassessment AT salmamonani migrantfarmworkersperceptionsofpesticideriskexposureinadamscountypennsylvaniaaculturalriskassessment AT rutherfordvplatt migrantfarmworkersperceptionsofpesticideriskexposureinadamscountypennsylvaniaaculturalriskassessment |