218998 California - Baja California Integrated Pesticide Illness and Exposure Prevention Project

Monday, November 8, 2010

Michael Welton, MPH, MA , California Office of Binational Border Health, California Department of Public Health, San Diego, CA
The California –Baja California Integrated Pesticide Illness and Exposure Prevention Project is funded by United States Environmental Protection Agency's Border 2012 grant program.

Imperial County is a major agriculture producing county in southeastern California, with approximately 30,000 seasonal and migrant farmworkers and used close to 4 million pounds of pesticides in 2008. Pesticide illness goes under reported because of the farmworker's hesitance to report to authority figures, access to health care, fear consequences from employer, etc.

The goal of the project is to: 1) Increase reporting of cases of pesticide illness and unsafe work conditions; 2) Educate farmworkers about their rights and resources available regarding pesticide exposure and unsafe working conditions.

One Spanish language 60-radio Public Service Announcement (PSA), one bilingual poster/flyer, and one Spanish language information pocket card were developed. Key informant interviews, and farmworker surveys were conducted in order to identify the appropriate messages and the most effective methods of information dissemination. Draft materials were finalized using focus groups in Calexico, CA. Promotoras (community health educators) disseminated close to 1000 flyers, over 3300 pocket cards, and 60 posters throughout 6 cities in Imperial County. Additionally, six trainings were conducted (3 in the U.S. & 3 in Mexico) in order to educate health care providers on the recognition and reporting of pesticide illness. A communication protocol between local and state authorities was developed for tracking binational pesticide illness cases between Imperial County and Mexicali, Mexico. All “binational” cases and pesticide-related emergencies are reported to cross border counterparts.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Epidemiology
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1) Explain pesticide illness surveillance in California. 2) Describe the charecteristics of a binational pesticide illness case.

Keywords: Pesticide Exposure, Migrant Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: After completing his undergraduate degree in Biology, Michael served 2 years in Paraguay, assisting rural Farmers with the U.S. Peace Corps. He received a duel master’s degree from San Diego State University in Public Health (Epidemiology) and Latin American Studies. He has worked with the California Department of Public Health’ Office of Binational Border Health for 3 years. He has been involved with California/Mexico Border and Migrant projects including, environmental health, worker’s safety, infectious disease surveillance, and health education. He is currently the U.S. Co-chair for the EPA Border 2012 CA/Baja CA Environmental Health Task Force. He directed all aspects of the ‘California-Baja California Integrated Pesticide Illness Surveillance and Prevention Project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3056.1: Occupational Health and Safety Roundtable Presentations I: Occupational Medicine