As temperatures get hotter, pesticides are more dangerous to farmworkers
Research shows heat amplifies the dangers of pesticides.
As temperatures rise due to climate change, pesticides pose an increasingly dangerous threat to the nation's 2.4 million farmworkers, according to mounting research. The heat intensifies the harmful effects of pesticides, making farmworkers more susceptible to their toxic effects while also putting additional strain on their bodies.
Wearing protective clothing in scorching weather compounds this vulnerability. Rising temperatures can lead to elevated evaporation rates, amplifying farmworkers' exposure to pesticides as more of them are applied to crops. Furthermore, heat accelerates the chemical transformation of pesticides into more dangerous compounds. Omanjana Goswami, a scientist at the Union for Concerned Scientists, an advocacy organization, warns that inhaling pesticides in the air and absorbing them through the skin, which becomes more permeable due to sweating, can cause significant harm. Goswami describes the situation as "awful," emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
