California farmworkers face higher risk of diseases

By Mark Glover

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More than 1 million California farmworkers face a higher risk of diabetes as well as respiratory diseases related to poor air quality, according to articles in the latest issue of California Agriculture.

In the articles, scientists affiliated with University of California Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety offer details of their research on the potential health effects of particulates in ambient air inhaled by laboratory animals in the San Joaquin Valley. They also reviewed factors such as the effect of pesticide exposure on diabetes rates among California farmworkers.

The articles in the journal note the Central Valley has the highest recorded levels of particulate matter in the country, resulting in increased rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

The recent research points to possible environmental links between pesticide exposure and the risk of diabetes.

"California's hired farmworkers face increased risks of morbidity and mortality from respiratory disease, musculoskeletal problems, infectious diseases, stress-related mental health disorders and lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity," said Marc Schenker, director of the center.

On the Net:

Read the articles at californiaagriculture.ucanr.org.