Study on Farmworker cancer risk

[Guest guest]

Hello!

Some of you may have seen this, others may not have. FYI.

PS Great conference at the Western Migrant Stream for those who went. For

those who didn't the next one is in Phoenix.

Study Showing Farm Workers at Higher Risk of Some Cancers Reignites Debate

Over Farm Safety

02/05/2002

Hispanic farm workers are at higher risk for certain types of cancer than

other Hispanics in the state, according to a study of United Farm Workers

union members appearing in the December issue of the American Journal of

Industrial Medicine. The Bakersfield Californian reports that the study by

UFW researchers and the California Cancer Registry " renewed an ongoing

debate " over whether people who work or live near agricultural fields that

use chemicals on crops are more susceptible to cancer. In the study,

researchers cross-referenced the names of more than 140,000 union members

enrolled in either the union's health or pension plan with the registry,

which records all cancer-related deaths in the state. The study found that

the risk of breast, lung and prostate cancer was higher among the general

Hispanic population than among UWF members. However, it found that Hispanic

UFW workers were 59% more likely to develop leukemia and 69% more likely to

develop stomach cancer than other Hispanics in the state. In addition,

uterine cancers among females and brain cancers among both males and

females also were more prevalent in Hispanics who had worked on farms.

" This study validates the many other studies that have been done over the

years, that there's a correlation between pesticides and the health of farm

workers, " Doug Blaylock, administrator of UFW's medical plan, who worked on

the study, said.

Growers Deny Link

The state's farmers, however, said there is no proven link between the

chemicals and cancer. " It's been very difficult to prove that (cancer)

comes from the farms. We don't foolishly or purposely cause people to get

sick, " Loron Hodge, executive director of the Kern County Farm Bureau,

said. Hodge noted that an " array of regulations " exist to protect workers'

health. He said the study was " part of an effort to push [uFW's] agenda " of

increasing union membership. But Vianey , a UFW organizer, said the

union's only agenda is " to protect the health " of farm workers, most of

whom lack health insurance and access to health care and may not be aware

of potential hazards on the job (, Bakersfield Californian, 2/3).

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