This pilot project will track Mexican immigrant farmworkers as they migrate from the Texas-Mexico border to multiple worksites throughout the United States. Additionally, this investigation will test the possibility of collecting bio-specimens from farmworkers as they migrate from location to location. The co-principle investigator (co-PI), a biocultural anthropologist, will travel with migrant and seasonal farmworkers along the work route detailing beliefs, values and behaviors that impact occupational health and safety. Specific aims of this investigation are:
1. To test the feasibility of tracking Mexican immigrant farmworkers from the Texas-Mexico Border region as they migrate to multiple worksites. For this study, we define a successful feasibility project as data collected from at least 7 out of 10 farmworkers during the study period. Specifically, one baseline questionnaire, two follow-up questionnaires, one qualitative interview, one work pattern observational assessment at each worksite, and nine bio-specimen (saliva) collections must be collected from 7 out of 10 farmworkers to meet the criteria of successful feasibility.
2. To perform an in-depth, ethnographic and observational assessment of the migrant farmworker experience. Beliefs and practices of Mexican immigrant farmworkers will be detailed as they travel from worksite to worksite; and
3. To collect a detailed work history for each farmworker participant, including number of days worked, clothing worn at work, occupational injury, and access to care using a survey questionnaire instrument; and
4. To test the practical nature and achievability of bio-specimen (saliva) collection from farmworkers as they migrate from location to location. Saliva collection will test the possibility of data gathering.
5. To test saliva samples for detectable levels of organophosphate pesticides and pesticide metabolites. Saliva samples are may be able to achieve successful limits of detection at low levels of pesticide exposure. Thus, this is an important objective which will aid in addressing environmental health concerns of farmworkers. Specimens will be analyzed for pesticides in saliva at the Pesticide Laboratory at the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control. |