and beliefs into consideration. Research delineates several major themes that reflect
farmworkers’ assumptions about pesticide exposure. One theme reflects the wide-
spread perception that susceptibility to the effects of pesticides is highly individual-
ized; some people are sensitive and experience ill effects, and others are more
resistant. Another theme indicates that farmworkers are concerned with the immedi-
ate or acute effects of exposure. Very few are aware of potential long-term conse-
quences of pesticide exposure, and none link these to chronic exposures or to residues.
Tied to this theme is the belief that the skin acts as a barrier to exposure, rather than as
a permeable membrane through which pesticides can be absorbed. Latino farmworkers
have their own indigenous health belief system; based on this system, workers often
delay washing and showering so as not to apply water, which is cool, to their body
when it is hot from rigorous activity. Farmworkers are divided on whether pesticides
are potentially dangerous. Some believe that the chemicals are not dangerous to
humans, and that they hurt only insects or weeds. While some state that farmers would
not use chemicals if they were dangerous to farmworkers, others contend that farmers
have no regard for their health. Finally, farmworkers often think they have no control
over workplace pesticide safety, and feel unable to adhere to safety rules. These beliefs
must be addressed in pesticide safety education if the burden of pesticide exposure
among farmworkers is to be reduced significantly.^52
Adolescent Latino Farmworkers’ Pesticide Knowledge
and Risk Perception
While exact figures are not known, it is estimated that adolescents make up 7 per-
cent of Latino farmworkers in U.S. agriculture. These young workers may be at
increased risk for the toxic effects of environmental exposures encountered during
their work. Furthermore, language barriers and health perceptions, similar to those of
adult farmworkers, may influence the risk perceptions of this population.
A cross-sectional survey of migrant adolescent farmworkrers was conducted in
1998 to investigate their work practices, health beliefs, and pesticide knowledge. The
large majority of the adolescents in the sample were from Mexico, and 36.3 percent
spoke primarily indigenous languages. Many of the adolescents (64.7 percent) were
traveling and working independent of their parents. Few of the adolescents reported
having received pesticide training; however, 21.6 percent of the group reported that
their current work involved mixing and/or applying agricultural chemicals.
The results of this study indicate a need for improved pesticide training for youth
farmworkers, with specialized education efforts directed toward minorities who speak
indigenous languages. Special attention is merited toward adolescent farmworkers
who report that their work includes mixing or applying pesticides. As the number of
adolescent farmworkers increases in the United States and the characteristics of the
migrant influx continue to change, culturally and developmentally appropriate instru-
ments are needed to adequately assess the health beliefs and protective practices of
this population.^53
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