Neysis Rangel: Farming practices release deadly spores into our air

I am writing urging you to spotlight the issue of air quality in the Central Valley, specifically directed toward orchard owners. As we are aware, during harvest season it is standard practice to violently shake the trees, followed by sweeping up the nuts. These practices cause wind storms that impede vision on our roads, and release toxic substances and organisms into the atmosphere causing chronic respiratory illnesses or deaths.

I remind you of one fungus in particular, Coccidioidomycosis, the culprit for the infectious disease known as “Valley Fever” or “Orphan Disease.” In Kern County alone, it caused six fatalities and infected 1,905 in 2016. Cocci spores go airborne when the soil is disrupted; if inhaled it leads to a lifetime of chronic respiratory disease, including extra-pulmonary disseminated infections if misdiagnosed.

I hope this will help lead us toward the path for air quality regulations for orchard owners. This is a beautiful and vital part of our state, we deserve a better quality of life. You have the power to help us.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Neysis Rangel: Farming practices release deadly spores into our air."