Photo by Shayan Ghiasvand on Unsplash
Shayan Ghiasvand on Unsplash

Policies and practices existing throughout a whole organization that cause and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and harmful treatment of others are known as systemic racism. Latino farmworkers are facing major racial disparities concerning representation, land, and money within the agricultural field. They currently make up 83% of all farmworkers in the United States. For instance, white Americans are most likely to own land and reap the benefits it generates, which means Latino farmworkers often work the land they do not own. Specifically, white people comprise over 97% of non-farming landowners, whereas Latino farmworkers make up only 2% of non-farming landowners.

As one of the most accident-prone industries nationwide, agriculture involves countless safety, health, environmental, biological, and respiratory hazards. Latino farmworkers are exposed to suffocation or engulfment when working with grain bins and silos. Suffocation can occur when a farmworker becomes engulfed by grain as they walk on moving grain or try to clear grain built up on the inside of a bin. Moreover, farmworkers exposed to hot and humid conditions are at a high risk of heat illness, particularly if they are performing heavy work tasks or using bulky protective equipment. Another significant health risk Latino farmworkers are facing is pesticide exposure, with paraquat being one of the most toxic chemicals they use.

Paraquat Exposure, Increasing the Risk of Parkinson's Disease Among Latino Farmworkers and the Nearby Communities

Every year, up to 8 million pounds of paraquat are used across the United States by farmworkers. This herbicide is manufactured under dozens of brand names, such as Gramoxone, Blanco, Parazone, and Helmquat. Paraquat exposure increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by a whopping 150%. Latino farmworkers are inevitably exposed to this chemical even if they wear protective clothing when using it, as the herbicide vapors linger in the air for a long time. To make matters worse, their families, which often reside nearby, are also at high risk of Parkinson's disease. Exposure to paraquat within 1,600 feet of a home increases the risk of the disorder by 75%. Paraquat residue can also infiltrate groundwater, the main drinking water source for farmworkers and their families.

Paraquat is neurotoxic, meaning exposure can take a heavy toll on the nervous system, especially the brain. The most vulnerable region of the brain when it comes to paraquat exposure is the substantia nigra, which is responsible for dopamine production and movement control. When paraquat accumulates in the brain, it causes oxidative stress, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, which impairs the normal functioning of the substantia nigra. This is why people with this disorder have difficulties with movement. Once this brain area becomes affected by paraquat exposure, the damage is irreversible. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that will only worsen over the years. Although paraquat has been banned in nearly 60 countries, it continues to be widely used in the United States.

Fighting Systemic Racism and Environmental Racism Among Latino Farmworkers

Farmworkers are, without a doubt, essential workers, as our food supply depends solely on their intense and continuous labor. Still, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discounted occupational exposure to pesticides among farmworkers, despite numerous studies documenting the disproportionate illness level among these individuals. Systemic racism is embodied in the agency's risk assessments, as they overlook people of color. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculates worker exposure separately from other exposures, and the risk assessments fail to include exposure to multiple chemicals, which is very common among farm workers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes worker protection standards under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The original standards were set after field hearings in the 1970s in which growers, not farmworkers, had a word to say. Most growers were white, and most farmworkers were Latino. Perhaps the most effective solution to achieve justice for Latino farmworkers would entail Congress improving the law concerning farmworker protection and paraquat exposure and exposure to other toxic pesticides. It should restore partial jurisdiction over regulating pesticide exposure to the OSHA to facilitate better coordination between this agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Farmworkers are excluded from many policies and regulations that could grant them protection under the "agricultural exceptionalism" system, which emerged during a time when institutional discrimination was the norm. This discrimination is still alive and well in the food system, and a radical change is necessary to end it. A feasible solution to fight environmental injustice among Latino farmworkers might be a combination of grassroots activism and collaboration with law firms specializing in toxic exposure, as pesticide exposure is prevalent among this demographic. Filing a class action lawsuit requires a lot of time and patience, but it could ultimately help these vulnerable people achieve the justice they deserve.

Farmworkers who have served as Paraquat sprayers, tank fillers, chemical mixers, and herbicide applicators, as well as individuals residing in proximity to agricultural areas and who have been exposed to Paraquat resulting in the development of Parkinson's disease, should act by filing a Paraquat claim to secure the rightful compensation they deserve.

About the Author

Miguel Leyva is a case manager at Atraxia Law. He aids farmworkers injured by paraquat exposure. Miguel Leyva helps people with Parkinson's disease gather and organize relevant information about their injuries so they can subsequently file a claim.