1

Corina De La Torre

February 22, 2016

Special Project

Pesticides and Farming: The local Effects on the Community

What is the American Dream? “The idea that every US citizen should have an equal

opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.”

US citizen? 11.6 million Mexican immigrants, reside in the United States today . Many who 1

have traveled long distances, in search of this dream. Families like mine, turned to Agriculture

Industries, in hopes of finding something better. Instead findings of, Long days in the sun, hard

labor and exposure to toxins from pesticide residues.

1 Card, David, and Ethan G. Lewis. "The diffusion of Mexican immigrants during the 1990s: Explanations and impacts." In Mexican immigration to the United States, pp. 193­228. University of Chicago Press, 2007.

2

Salinas, Home.

My family (originally from Jalisco, Guadalajara) came to the United States, 46 years ago

eventually settling in, Salinas California. My grandfather and grandmother came to the US in

search for this “American Dream” and make a better life for their children. My family found

Salinas and named it home. For 32 years my grandparents worked at local farms, only 10

minutes away from our families home. When I was in fourth grade, I remember waiting for my

grandparents by the door to hug them and curious on how their work day went. Coming home

tired and drained, my grandparents would be wearing layers of clothes and bandanas over their

faces. I grew up living in the east side of Salinas, most of my neighbors like my grandparents

worked in the strawberry fields. Waking up as early as 4am and a 10­15 hours shift awaited

them. My grandparents would always tell me “mija, ve a escuela porque este trabajo es pesado”,

“go to school, because this workload is heavy”.

My mother finished high school and shortly after, completed her training as a medical

assistant, this was a huge accomplishment for my family, since the job was in the medical field.

My mother's occupation as a clinical assistant, had her working from morning to night. As for

my father, he worked at the empaques, the company fresh express, packaging lettuce. He’d pick

me and my sister up when he’d get off of work, from my grandparent house. Daily, my father

would help me and my sister with our homework, until it became hard for himself. Only having a

bit of a high school education and hardly knowing english, he said one day “ vamos mañana a

escuela, y encontrar te un tutor..”, the following day my sister and I were enrolled in an after

school program, assisting us on our homework.

3

Growing up, my house faced a large landscape of fields. I remember one saturday

morning my mother and father were doing yard work, meanwhile a helicopter sprayed pesticides

all over the nearby fields. The following morning my mother woke up sick with one of her eyes

swollen closed.She blamed her ailment on being exposed to the airborne pesticides and sought

appropriate medical attention.

The Conflict

Following the end of the Mexican­American War in 1848, the fight of foreign soil and

expansion and after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe; allowing peace between Mexico and

the U.S, this conflict arrives in the 1900’s. Millions traveled Southwest and nearly all worked in

the agricultural wage laborers at one point or another, in California. During the same period, the 2

federal government began to arise the of exposure of illegal immigration, becoming a fear for

Mexicans and Mexican American immigrant families. Raids and large mass removals began

reversing the immigration movement, more than half a million of Mexican, Mexican American

and other ethnic background became targets, neighborhoods and small communities were

destroyed in within the decade. The American dream had an impact on these lives, this pastoral 3

ideal gave agricultural employers an advantage over farm workers, creating the once supported

reality of poor wages, working, living conditions from farm laborers. 4

Alongside to these problems that were occurring with immigration and fieldwork in

California, the birth of biopolitics in the same era of the Mexican American war comes to play

2 Guerin­Gonzales, Camille. Mexican Workers and American Dreams: Immigration, Repatriation, and California Farm Labor, 1900­1939. Rutgers University Press, 1994. 3 Guerin­Gonzales, Camille. Mexican Workers and American Dreams: Immigration, Repatriation, and California Farm Labor, 1900­1939. Rutgers University Press, 1994. 4 Guerin­Gonzales, Camille. Mexican Workers and American Dreams: Immigration, Repatriation, and California Farm Labor, 1900­1939. Rutgers University Press, 1994.

4

and rationalizes these problems presented in governmental practice. The idea of neoliberalism is

a strong factor of this American Dream. Being fully personally responsible of the social frame

work, leaving these immigrants at the bottom of social pyramid creating a gap between rich and

poor. The conflict began back in the eighteenth century, creating its major impact in the early

nineteenth century. The conflict is still effective today, with the growth of the agricultural

industry arising the use of pesticides arises along with it, the exposure of harmful toxins.

Pesticides

Salinas also known as the salad bowl, is a large agricultural community. Our fruits and

vegetables grown here are shipped around the world. Pesticide exposure is an ever­present issue

for farmworkers and their families, regardless if they are involved physically applying the

pesticide themselves, all farmworkers have a risk of exposure to pesticides directly and/or to

their residues. There is also the constant risk of indirect exposure for farmworkers and others

who work or live near farms. This exposure can occur through residue deposits or pesticide drift

that can be carried by the wind to unintended locations . Farmworkers may also unknowingly 5

expose their families and homes to toxic residues by carrying pesticides home on their bodies,

clothing, or shoes. 6

5 "INVENTORY of FARMWORKER ISSUES and PROTECTIONS in the UNITED STATES." March 2011. Accessed February 22, 2016. http://www.ufw.org/pdf/farmworkerinventory_0401_2011.pdf. 6 "INVENTORY of FARMWORKER ISSUES and PROTECTIONS in the UNITED STATES." March 2011. Accessed February 22, 2016. http://www.ufw.org/pdf/farmworkerinventory_0401_2011.pdf.

5

Pesticide drift ends up on nearby playgrounds, furniture and puts the rest of the

population in danger. I had a conversation with my grandmother a couple days ago, and asked 7

her to recall to her memories back when she worked in the strawberry fields, and if there were

protocols when they’d spray pesticides and if she felt possibly victimized by pesticides. She told

me “cuando pulverizan, nos cambian a una parte diferente en el field.” Basically the management

would just move the workers to a different part of the field, and they’d continue working. She

continued explaining how the “sprays” would have a strong odor, relying to the use of bandanas

to cover their faces and protect themselves from the fumes, “nos irrita los ojos”, many workers

complained their eye would irritate and become itchy. They were also told not to eat any of the

strawberries until three days after the spraying, my grandmother said her and my grandfather

would have stomach cramps and unsettle bowel movements for a couple days after as results of

7 Carrillo, Patricia. "Salinas: Salad Bowl or Pesticide Bowl of the World?" OuRXperience. September 11, 2011. Accessed February 22, 2016. http://blogs.kqed.org/ourxperience/2011/09/21/salinas­salad­bowl­or­pesticide­bowl­of­the­world/.

6

exposure. My grandparents never mentioned any of the discomforts; they were afraid to speak up

to the patrones, owners.Although this story takes us back 30 years ago, the same effects are

present. There has been a recent study, that collected samples from 20 farmworkers homes from

salinas to detect any traces of pesticides from the fields to their homes, the findings measured

levels of organophosphorus, organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides in their homes dust,

indoor and outdoor air, surface wipes, clothing, and food. 8

Organophosphates, Maneb and Mancozeb, and Methyl bromide are some of the chemical

bases that are found within certain types of pesticides, these are used to prevent, inhibit, and

control problems such as, borne diseases, microbial contamination, avian flu, prions and other

diseases or infestations. For an example, various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses,

and protozoans, can cause microbial contamination in hospitals, public health clinics, and food

processing facilities. EPA has registered antimicrobial products , intended to control these

microorganisms and help prevent the spread of numerous diseases. 9

Indeed, these chemical bases prevent diseases and promote healthier quality food,

although simple exposure of such chemicals are deadly themselves. Health effects of a nerve

agent or organophosphate poisoning results in a wide range of exposure because it affects a large

number of organs and physical processes, symptoms as severe as Hyperpnea and Hypertension

and mild as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. As for methyl bromide, more widely know, is as a 10

8 Bradman, Asa, Donald Whitaker, Lesliam Quirós, Rosemary Castorina, Birgit Claus Henn, Marcia Nishioka, Jeffrey Morgan et al. "Pesticides and their metabolites in the homes and urine of farmworker children living in the Salinas Valley, CA." Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology 17, no. 4 (2007): 331­349 9" Why We Use Pesticides | Pest Control and Pesticide Safety for Consumers | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed February 25, 2016. https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/why­we­use­pesticides. 10"Organophosphates ­ Toxipedia." Welcome to Toxipedia ­ Toxipedia. Accessed February 25, 2016. http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Organophosphates

7

fumigant in soil to control fungi, nematodes, and weed. It’s effects are more chronic, such as

mild functional neurological impairment, Degenerative and even proliferative lesions in the nasal

cavity. In a human mortality study, a higher incidence of death from testicular cancer was

identified in men occupationally exposed to methyl bromide. Third chemicals mentioned, 11

Maneb and Mancozeb, create symptoms of irritation of skin, eyes and respiratory tract, skin

sensitization. Chronic skin disease has been observed in occupationally exposed workers. 12

Regulations and Policies have been created to prevent exposures. By law, regulations of

pesticides that are used by growers to protect crops grown for food and animal feed, have set

limits on the amount of pesticides that may be left remaining in and/or on foods marketed in the

USA. These limits on pesticides left on foods are called "tolerances" in the United States; they

are referred to as maximum residue limits. Pesticide registration and labeling requirements are 13

examples of mechanisms to control the risks of pesticide use. Labels are considered legal

documents that attempt to provide direct control of pesticide applications; labels may be thought

of as "due care" regulations. 14

11 "Methyl Bromide (Bromomethane) | Technology Transfer Network Air Toxics Web Site | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed February 25, 2016. http://www3.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/methylbr.html. 12 Mancozeb ­ Toxicity, Ecological Toxicity and Regulatory Information." PAN Pesticide Database. Accessed February 25, 2016. http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC35080. 13 "About Pesticide Tolerances | Regulation of Pesticide Residues on Food | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed February 25, 2016. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide­tolerances/about­pesticide­tolerances. 14The Use of Marketable Permits for Pesticide Control ­ Research Funding | Publications | NCEE | US EPA, The Use of Marketable Permits for Pesticide Control ­ Grant­Funded Research in Environmental Economics." Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed February 25, 2016. http://yosemite.epa.gov/ee/epa/eed.nsf/2a16d09ab9cd7590852575a6006ab362/d26ee0af75337fd2852575a7005e938f!opendocument.

8

Exclusive Director of Monterey County Farm Bureau , Norm Groot is active in policy

development and commodity advisory committees and claims to understand the issues facing

California Agriculture and the challenges that today's economics bring to farmers and ranchers.

In his oversight testimony, Groot explains how he and his colleagues want fresh and clean air

and water. He said there is unreasonable standards to have quality air and water, and even

endangered species, come at a cost and sometime more than a farmer makes out of his crops. 15

He basically continues saying how the burden of these regulations are causing loss of money and

jobs in farming and how we should support these industries because it's positive to ecology, and

farmers are ultimately environmentalist. He ends stating “We are all live by what grows in our

soil, We drink and breathe the same air” . 16

Map of Power

When it comes to “who” has power over this conflict of pesticide usage is evenly

disbursed. There is certain policies and regulations farm owners and local companies have to

follow in order to use pesticides. EPA stands for Environmental Protection Agency and is an

15 "INVENTORY of FARMWORKER ISSUES and PROTECTIONS in the UNITED STATES." March 2011. Accessed February 22, 2016. http://www.ufw.org/pdf/farmworkerinventory_0401_2011.pdf. 16 "INVENTORY of FARMWORKER ISSUES and PROTECTIONS in the UNITED STATES." March 2011. Accessed February 22, 2016. http://www.ufw.org/pdf/farmworkerinventory_0401_2011.pdf.

9

agency that stands to protect human health and the environment. EPA and the State of California

are who register and license the usage of pesticides. EPA also establishes tolerances (maximum

legally permissible levels) for pesticide residues in food and set the Workers Protection Standard

(WPS) are federal regulations designed to protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries and

greenhouses from occupational exposures to agricultural pesticides.

Farm Bureau of Monterey County is another source of power. This non­profit

organization promotes agriculture wellbeing and support local agribusiness, education and

development of policies. Salinas Mayor, Joe Gunter is the city's head policy maker, and calls the

overall decision making with the help of local EPA. CHAMACO’s case study as mentioned

previously, is a longitudinal case study and traces the living proof of pesticides. This powermap

explains where these different people/s lay in the decision making of pesticides and how

beneficial they are to my position.

10

Interview

Aria Berlin, had the chance to have a phone interview with Norm Groots, and I was able

to assist her with the interview questions. Monterey County Farm Bureau began over 100 years

ago to give support services and educate local farmers and now has developed into an advocacy

and representation of local farmers. Groots begins with stating the economic benefits of the

agriculture industry here in the Monterey County, how it’s been a 4.5 billion industry since 2014,

regardless of the economic pitfall a few years back. He clarifies the misconception of organic

farming and conventional farming. He states that organic farming still consist of pesticide usage,

although it is a natural pesticide versus the synthetic pesticides conventional uses. The idea he

likes everyone to grasp is no synthetic is not more toxic nor uses more chemicals, both organic

and conventional farming have the same exact problem of pesticides and diseases that can occur.

The problem with organic farming is that, he says, it’s natural pesticides have less effectiveness,

resulting to double or triple amount to be used rather than the one time use conventional does.

Global economy was brought up, how trade is consistent and is back and forth with

partners. And at times, imports can or could carry imported diseases and pest affecting our native

soil and crops. Groot explains then, how the strict regulations on farmers can affect them by

dangerously disallowing them to react quickly if such problem occurring causing a grand

problem of production and food supply. Ending of 2015, we are looking about 9 billion people,

depending on their basic dietary needs explains Groot. How farmers are natural environmentalist

and should be able with the evolving of science, create advancement in the industry with

11

pesticide usage. If regulations are relooked at, the idea of a possible problem, that could happen

such as pest can be targeted easily and contained without harming the rest of the crops.

Chamacos is a case study that takes a deeper look at the effects of exposure of pesticides,

and how it affects families, mothers with children in utero who work at the local fields of Salinas

and tracts their development and growth. As a board member, Norm Groot would like to clarify

that this study was taken over fifteen years ago and agricultural has definitely developed from

then. The results of the chamacos cases, is that these children have developed less IQ scores and

developmentally slower compared to children whose mothers weren’t exposed to chemicals

during their pregnancy. Groots explains that chemicals have been updated and the application of

pesticides is taken with more precaution .

The future for the agricultural industry of Salinas, he claims is strong. With a single word

to define it, sustainability. Sustainability is not new to local farmers, it's been adopted for years.

The advancement of technology and, incline in labor and harvesting can support this growing

industry of agriculture, ending Groot.

12

Conclusion

The use of pesticides has affected my family and community. Pesticides are clearly

harmful and dangerous without proper safety applications. The chemicals and applications might

not “necessarily” be the same as Norm Groot mentioned in the interview and compared to ten

years back. Although I believe, based on the chemicals exposure ten years back, the effects are

still arising and are still a problem. Exposure to these pesticides regardless of the year, can still

an effect on the community of Salinas. Health damage has long lasting effects, as shown in the

Chamacos studies, the children being observed are clear examples of pesticide exposure. Higher

rates of autism, learning disabilities and developmental delay in children exposed to high levels

of pesticides or children whose mothers were exposed to high levels of pesticides while they

were in the womb. 17

As mentioned previously, the unknowing of exposure and contamination is at large, toxic

residues are carried home on their bodies of fieldworkers, clothing, or shoes. The chemicals

found in one of the studies mentioned above have shown support that these chemicals are be

carried home, exposing families. The fear of silent health effects—increased cancer rates,

respiratory problems or reproductive are issues they may face down the road . We as a 18

community, should be concerned about and bring awareness too.

It’s is important to understand the concerns of pesticides are real, and perhaps the

application and chemicals have changed for the better in past years but their problems can still be

17 “CERCH – Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health." » Asthma and Respiratory Health. Accessed February 23, 2016. http://cerch.org/health­outcomes/asthmadraft/. 18 Weintraub, Daniel. "Community, Farmers Split on Pesticide Regulation ­ Rural California Report." Home. Accessed February 23, 2016. http://www.cirsinc.org/rural­california­report/entry/community­farmers­split­on­pesticide­regulation.

13

traced back to our communities roots and neighbors of Salinas. For the public health, it is

important to acknowledge the history of pesticide problems and aware the community about

them. In order to move to the future we need to reconcile the past. And continue educating not

only the applicators of the pesticides but the fieldworkers, local companies and not only our

neighboring communities but the State of California. Salinas is home to many families and

including mine, the continuation of growth and strength of the Agriculture Industry, should not

only be inspired through our community health but the interest of our people; the Fieldworkers

seeking the American Dream.

Analysis.

Overall, as an advocate of the usage of pesticides, I believe pesticides, although the EPA

claims that the benefits of legally registered pesticides outweigh the risks, it cannot clearly be

guaranteed, through the aboves case studies, that pesticides are “safe”.

Pesticides do not only affect fieldworkers and the community, these toxins affect the

structure of life itself. It has been shown, traces of pesticides have been found in waterways.

Scientists have found more than 35 different pesticides in streams, 16 of them in amounts above

14

safety standards for fish,in California. According to Cornell entomologist David Pimentel, “It 19

has been estimated that only 0.1% of applied pesticides reach the target pests, leaving the bulk of

the pesticides (99.9%) to impact the environment” . These harmful environmental impacts of 20

pesticide result to loss of biodiversity and elimination of key species (e,g bees), water pollution,

soil contamination and so much more.

Resolving these problems can start at homes in Salinas. Making sure food such as fruits

and vegetables are being cooked fully and correctly washed before consuming and properly

cleaning surfaces. Fieldworkers acknowledging the possible thought of bring home pesticides on

clothes and body, can do simple steps of taking work shoes off outside, making sure to wash

hands or even shower right after arriving home. Attending salinas city council meetings and

bring attention the concern of pesticides, can start developing more community solutions and

outreach programs. The Monterey County Farmers Bureau, along with Norm Groot and continue

19 Homepage — Washington Toxics Coalition. Accessed February 25, 2016. http://www.watoxics.org/files/whats­wrong­using­pesticides. 20 "Sustainable Table | Pesticides." GRACE Communications Foundation. Accessed February 25, 2016. http://www.sustainabletable.org/263/pesticides.

15

“educating” safe usage of pesticides. Regulations and Policies are made for a purpose, lessing

them to benefit companies sellings should not be a even come to mind. The health of the

fieldworkers, families, the Salinas community, the State, and the countries who we export our

products to, are our primary concern. Our biodiversity, key species, water and ultimately our soil

is crucial to our living existence, to this we owe mother nature the right to properly use pesticides

or even look for other natural resources to eliminate.