would be expected for highly exposed subpopulations of young people, especially
farm children. Some studies did look at the children of parents who work in jobs that
may involve pesticide exposure; however, the child’s exposure was almost never
directly assessed, but instead was indirectly estimated based only on the parent’s job
title. Such a technique is likely to lead to misclassification of exposures and underesti-
mation of health effects. Thus, health impacts among farm children are likely much
greater than those described in most of the scientific research to date. Because of the
health effects of pesticides, it is important to identify the sources and levels of expo-
sure to these chemicals in order to protect the most highly exposed children from
these dangerous substances.
Much remains unknown about the risks faced by children in agriculture, and
enforcement of pesticide protection standards for farmworkers is patchy and unsyste-
matic. Children are known to be more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides, but
there is a lack of data regarding children’s exposures and the precise effects of pesti-
cides on their health.^48
Perceptions of Growers and Extension Agents Toward Farmworker
Pesticide Exposure
Growers have more control over their own pesticide exposure risk than do the
farmworkers they employ. While growers are responsible for providing a safe work
environment, their perceptions of the health risk of pesticides influence the amount
and quality of safety training and protection they offer workers. One study analyzed
growers’ and cooperative extension agents’ perceptions of farmworker pesticide expo-
sure from in-depth interviews conducted with growers and extension agents who
work in western North Carolina. Both groups indicated that the danger of pesticide
exposure is exaggerated by the media and the public. They felt that workers were at
little risk of exposure because they had received training and protective equipment as
required by law and because they were not in direct contact with chemicals. Their
perceptions were at odds with results of other research indicating that many farm-
workers do not receive the required training and do not always utilize protective gear.
Linguistic and cultural barriers contribute to these discrepancies in perceptions and
must be addressed if measures to reduce farmworker pesticide exposure are to be
effective.^49
Exposure Risks of Families of Farmer Pesticide Applicators
The Agricultural Health Study, a large research project, enrolled approximately
27,000 licensed private pesticide applicators in Iowa and North Carolina. The study
determined that families of farmers who are pesticide applicators have unusual oppor-
tunities for direct or indirect exposure to pesticides. These exposures have not been
well characterized. Many indirect exposure opportunities exist; for example, 21 per-
cent of homes are within fifty yards of pesticide mixing areas, 27 percent of applica-
tors store pesticides in their homes, and 94 percent of clothing worn for pesticide
Pesticides in Agriculture | 49