Wellbeing
Nitrate Well Water Testing in Agricultural Communities: Improving Environmental Health Communication with Health Behavior Theory
Elevated levels of nitrate in groundwater are a significant public health concern for private well water users, including in the Lower Yakima Valley, which has a large Latino farmworker community. This pilot project developed tailored communication materials on well water testing specifically for this population. Our project was guided by a committee of local stakeholders of the Lower Yakima Valley (LYV) in Washington State, including El Proyecto Bienestar and the Latino Community Fund.
A Multi-Level Approach to Heat-Related Illness Prevention for Agricultural Workers
This project proposes to develop and evaluate a multi-level approach to heat-related illness (HRI) prevention in agricultural workers. The intervention will develop tools to prevent the negative health effects of prolonged heat for individuals (knowledge and behaviors), workplaces (policies and practices), and communities (homes).
The Healthy Dairy Worker Study
Dairy workers are commonly exposed to microbes and allergens on the job. However, little is known about whether these exposures provide health benefits or contribute to an increased risk of illness. The ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ suggests that exposure to microbes on farms may have immune benefits.
Project Overview
Parkinsonism among Washington State Agricultural Pesticide Handlers
Previous human and animal studies suggest that some pesticides, including those typically applied by agricultural pesticide handlers, may increase the risk of parkinsonism (PS). This study assessed the feasibility of conducting neurological exams on active pesticide handlers, to determine the prevalence PS symptoms.
Epidemiological studies suggest a 49% increased risk of PS in individuals who have had chronic occupational exposure to pesticides.
Ergonomic Evaluation of Emerging Mobile Platform Technologies in the Tree Fruit Industry
Tree-fruit activities such as pruning, structural cutting, and green fruit thinning, are high-intensity labor activities traditionally performed on the ground or on ladders. To explore the impact of new technology on worker strain and injury, this project conducted a comparison between three different treatment groups: ground, ladder, and harvest-assisted mobile platforms.
Total Worker Health in Salmon Fishermen from Cordova, Alaska
This one-year study assessed chronic health conditions and habits among the gillnet fleet based out of Cordova, AK.