Farmworkers Health Research
The production of vegetables and fruits in the United States and other nations is dependent upon the hand labor provided by migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the US. While providing this essential service to society, farmworkers are exposed to numerous occupational and environmental health risks that result in high rates of physical injury and illness. Farmworkers suffer psychological as well as physical stressors, including discrimination, separation from family, long work hours, and fear of unemployment and under-employment that increase their risks for mental illness and substance abuse. While their work is essential and their exposure to harm is high, farmworkers generally receive low wages, and they are seldom provided health benefits by their employers. Projects we have conducted have documented the prevalence of occupational and environmental exposures of farmworkers and their families, as well as health status among members of this population. We have also developed and implemented programs to reduce the occupational and environmental exposures that farmworkers experience.
Farmworker Projects
PACE
La Familia
Occupational Skin Disease
Exposure: PACE3
Casa a Campo