As climate change leads to higher temperatures, pesticides evaporate faster, increasing the risk of toxic exposure for farmworkers and nearby communities.
Siri Chilukuri reports for Mother Jones.
In short:
- Extreme heat causes pesticides to evaporate more quickly, leading to increased airborne pesticide drift, which can affect communities miles away.
- The EPA plans to include pesticide drift in its guidelines for approving new products, aiming to mitigate health risks from drift-related exposure.
- Farmworkers, often immigrants, face heightened risks as they may avoid reporting exposure due to job and immigration status vulnerabilities.
Key quote:
"Now that it’s getting hotter, there’s maybe more potential for things to change, or be less predictable."
— Emily Marquez, senior scientist at the Pesticide Action Network
Why this matters:
Climate change exacerbates pesticide drift, posing a serious health threat to farmworkers and nearby communities. Understanding and regulating pesticide behavior in high heat is crucial to protect those most vulnerable to exposure.
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