Tag Archives: Environmental Justice

Farmworkers at Higher Risk for Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition of the central nervous system that causes tremors in the body, difficulty walking, and trouble coordinating movements. In later stages, the disease also causes emotional and cognitive problems such as depression, hallucination, memory loss, … Continue reading

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This is Your Brain on Pesticides

Last year, several studies linked pesticide exposure in pregnant women to lower IQs in their children, which we wrote about in our blog post, “Farmworkers Suffer a Disproportionate Burden.” A new study published this May went a step further: researchers … Continue reading

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Methyl Iodide on the Chopping Block?

While all pesticides are designed to harm living things, there are some that are considered more dangerous than others. One of those pesticides is the controversial chemical methyl iodide, which has been used in strawberry fields in California since 2010. Many environmental groups and health professionals warned state regulators about the dangers of methyl iodide before it was approved at the end of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s term; they were ignored. The state’s own scientific advisors, as well as an independent panel of scientists, warned that the chemical can cause cancer, among other dangerous health effects. Now these groups, and others such as EarthJustice, are asking Alameda County Superior Court to put an end to its use. Continue reading

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Día de los Muertos

November 2 marks the Mexican holiday known as Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead,” when families traditionally gather to honor those who have gone before. On November 1, members of the North Carolina Farmworker Advocacy Network (FAN) … Continue reading

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Remember Farmworkers When Considering Organic Versus Non-Organic

Co-Authored by Valentina Stackl, Health & Safety Program Associate, AFOP It is often forgotten that every piece of fruit and vegetable found at the supermarket was painstakingly picked by a man, woman, or child. Last week, these individuals – our … Continue reading

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Effects of Prenatal Pesticide Exposure on Infant Health

By Doris Sempasa, AFOP Health & Safety Programs Intern A recent study of pesticide levels in newborn umbilical cord blood found that infants with higher levels of pesticides tended to weigh less at birth. The study also found that organochlorine … Continue reading

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Dangerous Exposure: Farmworker Children and Pesticides

It has been almost a year since the groundbreaking report from the President’s Panel on Cancer was released, highlighting environmental causes of cancer.  Of particular interest to us was the chapter on agricultural chemicals and the attention given specifically to … Continue reading

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SAFE AmeriCorps Health and Safety Training at the National Chavez Center

“The best way to honor his [Cesar Chavez] memory is to keep his work going. Your training here is the best birthday present he could have!” –Paul Chavez, son of Cesar Chavez and president of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation … Continue reading

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Reemerging Government Perspective, Must Work Well In Groups

I recently had the opportunity to see the government’s reemerging emphasis on collaboration in action at the EPA’s Beyond Translation event in Durham, NC, on October 6. During the event, I participated in a significant discussion focusing on the local … Continue reading

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