As temperatures get hotter, pesticides are more dangerous to farmworkers

As the world's 2.4 million farmworkers face increasing temperatures due to climate change, a growing body of research suggests that these rising heat levels will worsen the dangers posed by pesticides, according to a Union for Concerned Scientists' scientist, Omanjana Goswami. Heat not only stresses the body, rendering it more susceptible to pesticides and other harmful substances, but also intensifies the effects of protective clothing worn in such conditions.

Increased heat can lead to higher evaporation rates, consequently amplifying farmworkers' exposure to pesticides. Moreover, heightened temperatures can trigger chemical reactions that transform pesticides into more hazardous compounds. Goswami explained that heat can expose farmworkers to pesticides through inhalation, skin absorption, and sweating, which enlarges pores and allows greater pesticide penetration.