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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will issue new regulations to protect farmworkers from harmful pesticides. New rules issued by the EPA will require annual safety training for workers who use pesticides. In addition, agricultural workers under 18 will be banned from being near or handling pesticides. The change in policy could protect agricultural workers from occupational illnesses. According to the EPA, some pesticides can increase the risk of developing cancer, Parkinson’s disease and asthma.
Pesticides are widely used in the agricultural industry, exposing workers to harmful health conditions. EPA research suggests pesticides poison 10,000 to 20,000 agricultural workers every year. Centers for Disease Control statistics show 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides are used annually.
We recently wrote a blog post about a lawsuit filed against Monsanto. The suit was filed after two workers allegedly developed cancer from RoundUp, a commonly used pesticide. The World Health Organization’s cancer research unit has classified glyphosate, a chemical used in RoundUp, as carcinogenic to humans. Another 17,000 pesticides are sold in the United States, many of which are used by agricultural workers.
What Other Health Conditions Are Caused By Harmful Pesticides?
Although some pesticides may increase the risk of developing cancer and Parkinson’s disease, exposure might also lead to brain injuries and lower IQ scores in children. Pesticides have also been linked to neurological problems in the children of former agricultural works. A University of California Berkeley study found pesticides could pass through the placenta of expecting mothers and affect the intellectual development of their children.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC – Columbus Workers’ Comp Attorneys