Effects of Chronic Occupational Exposures to Pesticides on Neurological Function in Farmworkers (Workers' Health)
Social & Scientific Systems conducted an NIEHS hybrid study investigating the presence of subclinical neurological deficits among farmworkers with low-level, chronic exposure to pesticides living in an agricultural area west of Orlando, Florida. We established field interview offices in two agricultural communities to provide central sites for the 3-hour interview and testing protocol. Three hundred and fifty-three participants completed an intensive occupational history questionnaire and were evaluated for symptoms of neurologic impairment using instruments previously tested among Hispanic agricultural workers. Recruitment of farmworkers was facilitated through the partnership and cooperation of the Farmworkers Association of Florida and the FarmWorkers Credit Union, to which many of the farmworkers belong. We designed data collection forms, translated all materials into Spanish, hired and trained bilingual field staff, managed all field operations, tracked all study activities through a study management system, and coded and edited the collected data.