As temperatures get hotter, pesticides are more dangerous to farmworkers

As temperatures rise, pesticides become increasingly dangerous for the nation's 2.4 million farmworkers, according to research. The impact of climate change on farmworkers is a growing concern, with heat exacerbating the harmful effects of pesticides. Wearing protective clothing in hot weather only intensifies the stress on the body, making farmworkers more vulnerable to toxic pesticides.

Higher temperatures also result in increased evaporation rates, meaning farmworkers are exposed to more pesticides as they are applied to crops. Furthermore, heat can cause pesticides to transform into more toxic compounds, further endangering those who work in the fields. Omanjana Goswami, a scientist from the Union for Concerned Scientists, explained that heat poses a severe threat to farmworkers, as it leads to inhalation of pesticides through the nose and absorption through the skin due to their pores opening up from sweating.