B. California None of the 717 pesticides now used in California meets current safety testing requirements on birth defects, cancer, sterility and other diseases according to State reports. Furthermore, pesticide companies have failed to submit 97% of the critical health and safety studies necessary to evaluate such pesticide hazards only 12 of the 717 pesticides (1.7%) meet current testing requirements for birth defects. C. Annual Pesticide Illness According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, these were 2,118 reported cases of illness in 1988 with a possible relationship to pesticide use. of these case, 874 involved use of "agricultural pesticides", and the remainder nonagricultural uses. The number of illnesses among "field workers" due to agricultural pesticide usage, has averaged 345 over a six year period from 1982 thorough 1987. In 1988, a total of 3,144 reports were received, of which 2,118 were "classified" related to "pesticide expose". D. Typologies of Acute Pesticide Illness Typologies of Acute Pesticide Illnesses include the following. Occupational - primarily dermal contact a. Concentrated materials; mixer, loaders, applicators, manufacturing workers. Farmworkers/harvest crew "exposure to pesticides" is usually "short-term" at "very high-levels" of exposure. Whereas, rural residents not occupationally exposed suffer "long-term/low-level exposure". (California Occupational Health Program Data, March, 1990). E. Workforce Profile Average According to a "profile of California farmworkers", Hispanics comprise approximately 88% of the workforce with 39% being of "migrant status". number of "weeks worked per year" for males was 25 weeks, 16 weeks for "females" and "8 weeks" for "children" (14-17). However, as frequently is the case, many migrant families typically take the "entire family" to work in the fields. And it is not "unordinary" to see a woman in her fourth to fifty month of pregnancy working in the field. Children typically accompany the parents to the fields, "due to the lack of child care services" available to them. A recent survey by Tri-County of 217 individual migrant families indicate that if child care services were available to them, that both parents would continue working. In California, the highest level of agricultural pesticides usage, has occurred in Fresno, Monterey, and San Joaquin Counties, two counties which fall under TriCounty Head Starts jurisdiction i.e., Fresno/Monterey counties. (See appendix A). Accordingly, the highest physician reports of Occupational Pesticide Illnesses in California com from our service areas of Monterey and Fresno Counties (see appendix B). In 1988, with respect to pesticide illness by crop (in Calif.), grapes reported the highest number of cases N-36. (see appendix C) Again, farmworkers typically "harvesting this crop", consisting mostly of Hispanics. From 1980 to 1984, Fresno County has been in the top four counties in California with the highest numbers in total poisoning (see appendix D). Typically, causes of "field residue poisoning" is either (1) misapplication of pesticide or (2) "reentry interval is inadequate". (see appendix E). III. Conclusionary Remarks In conclusion, children of migrant farmworkers are exposed directly and in-directly to environmental toxins. Specifically without education and awareness, farmworker parents do not realize that when they come home to their families, they "run the risk"of exposing their children to toxic contaminants which have been absorbed by their clothes and skin. Proximity or location of migrant families in the rural areas, further contributes to exposure. Camps and or houses on many occasions have been exposed to pesticides sprayed by low-flying "crop-dusters. Pesticides have been linked not only to cancer, but, long-term exposure adversely effects the lungs, central nervous system, cell metabolism, and other vital parts of the human body. (see appendix F) If our children are to succeed and have a fighting chance at "breaking the cycle of poverty", through education, it requires that cognitive developmental abilities be at its' fullest potential. How can you explain to an innocent child in poverty, whose dreams are to learn more and more each day, that society has failed to fulfill its' responsibility in providing an environment conducive to cognitive development. Do we explain that previous generations were so engrossed with being "number one" economically, that we failed to thoroughly research the possible negative consequences resulting from saturating the soil, water, and earths natural resources with contaminants such as toxic pesticides? To this committee, concerned citizens, and distinguished guests, these children are our future leaders of America. Collectively we must each do our part within our own spheres of influence, to provide our children with the most effective tools, opportunities and capabilities with which to lead our nation. Collectively, we can make a difference. |