Field Evaluation of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Against Airborne Dust and Microorganisms During Cotton Harvest
Dr. Adhikari has collected control air samples from three cotton farm locations and analyzed them for PM and culturable microorganisms. Respiratory deposition modeling data for particulate matter (PM) was presented in the inhaled aerosol dosimetry conference in Irvine, CA. Air sampling and other field experiments at cotton farms continue during harvesting (by combine harvesters).
Agro-ecological practices in the face of climate change: Resilience, sustainability, and preparedness in Puerto Rico
Evaluate the comparative food production effects of Hurricane Maria in agro-ecological and industrial agricultural settings of Puerto Rico. Describe the resilience, sustainability, and preparedness strategies adopted by each system. Estimating the time and extent to which each system is rebounding. Determine the amount of forestland, lost, standing, or rebuilding in each system. Quantify the impact […]
Chronic low back pain in seafood workers: a pilot intervention study to identify modifiable work and movement solutions
Identify modifiable, sector-specific, work and movement solutions with the potential to reduce the burden or severity of chronic lower back pain in small samples of clam workers. Determine the extent that participants adopt identified solution(s), and the impact of their self-selected work and movement modifications or functional difficulty and low back pain.
Heat and Pesticide Stress in the Kidney
Project Summary Agricultural workers provide the food we eat but often face a unique combination of occupational health hazards. Increasing incidence of unexplained chronic kidney disease in agricultural workers around the world, along with evidence from a recent Ag Health Study (AHS) in the U.S. directly linking kidney disease to exposure to specific pesticides, makes […]
Using Social Marketing to Prevent HRI and Improve Productivity Among Farmworkers
Project Summary Farmworkers face a variety of economic, structural, and cultural barriers to adopting safety practices in the field especially with the prevention of heat-related illness (HRI) and associated injuries. Farmworkers are at increased risk for HRI and even death because they are exposed to extreme heat while engaged in strenuous physical activity such as […]
Heat Stress and Biomarkers of Renal Disease
Project Summary Recently there has been a marked increase in occurrences of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in agricultural workers in Mesoamerica. The potential mechanism for this increase remains elusive; it may be associated with working in hot environments causing recurrent dehydration leading to decreased renal blood flow, high demands on tubular reabsorption, and increased levels […]
PISCA: Pesticide & Heat Stress Education for Latino Farmworkers that is Culturally Appropriate
Project Summary Farmworkers, the majority of whom are Latino immigrants from Mexico, experience elevated rates of occupational injury and illness. Chronic low-dose exposure to pesticides and extreme heat and humidity are major sources of poor occupational health outcomes. Recent revisions to the EPA’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS-r) and growing concern over heat-related illness (HRI) necessitate […]
Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance of Gulf Seafood Workers
Project Summary Commercial ocean fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Workplace-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths are not uncommon for commercial seafood workers. Many of these adverse outcomes are avoidable in this majority self-employed, uninsured essential workforce. This surveillance research project will assess commercial fishery worker safety in the southeastern U.S., […]
Extent of Agricultural Pesticide Applications in Florida Using Best Practices
Project Summary Although agriculture represents a key industry in Florida, little recent information is available on the potential exposure of workers to various herbicides and pesticides that are needed to grow commercial food crops. We propose to develop estimates of the potential site-specific environmental exposures that should be expected, based on geographic extents of specific […]
