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Lake Apopka Farmworkers Environmental Health Survey

Lake Apopka Farmworkers Environmental Health Survey. A Project of the Farmworker Association of Florida. January 2005 - May 2006. Dr. Ron Habin Independent Anthropologist. Geraldean Matthew Project Coordinator. THE SURVEY.

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Lake Apopka Farmworkers Environmental Health Survey

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  1. Lake Apopka Farmworkers Environmental Health Survey

  2. A Project of the Farmworker Association of Florida January 2005 - May 2006 Dr. Ron Habin Independent Anthropologist Geraldean Matthew Project Coordinator

  3. THE SURVEY • From January through December 2005, 148 former Lake Apopka farmworkers were interviewed. • Ninety-two percent (92%) said that they had been exposed to pesticides in the workplace. • Eighty-five percent (85%) feel that exposure to pesticides has affected their health. • Eighty-three (83%)feel that they are in “fair ” or “poor ” health.

  4. Percentage of Men and Women Surveyed

  5. 2% 0-19 20-29 17% 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ 20% 27% 19% Age of Farmworkers at the Time They Were Surveyed 15% 70 + 30-39 60-69 40-49 50-59

  6. Years in Farm Work 11% 8% 25+ 21-25 37% 0-5 14% 16-20 0-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 11-15 16-20 years 6-10 21-25 years 11% 25+ years 19%

  7. excellenthealth 6% good health 11% poor health 32% fair health 51% How People Feel About Their Health condition

  8. "No one ever told the workers what kind of pesticides and the dangers we were exposed to."

  9. Other Places of Contamination in the Area • Two industrial landfills • Two EPA Superfund sites • City sewage treatment plant • Medical waste incinerator • Plastics industries

  10. 68% 47% 47% Current Consumption 33% Percent of Participants Consuming Previous Consumption 29% 25% 22% 20% 16% 12% 11% 9% fish turtles raccoons rabbits alligators wild vegetables Types of Wildlife Consumption Food From Around Lake Apopka

  11. Most Common Diseases and Sicknesses Reported

  12. Some Not Taking Prescriptions For Illnesses

  13. Over the Counter Medicines • More than 56% reported taking medicines for cough or throat problems. (Cough syrup or drops.) • More than 49% reported using creams to treat skin rashes.

  14. "My husband and I have been seriously affected by our exposure to pesticides working on the farms at Lake Apopka."

  15. Had a child born with a birth defect 13% Cleft palate 3% Type Cleft lip 2% Different shaped hands or fingers 4% Different shaped feet or toes 4% Other 3% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% Percent of Families Affected Birth Defects

  16. Problem Pregnancies Had one or more problem pregnancies 21% Complicated pregnancy 14% Type Child died at childbirth 6% Child died shortly after birth 6% Miscarriage 16% Other 3% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Percent of Families Affected

  17. Reproductive Problems

  18. "I do believe that my children have the effects of the chemicals in their systems."

  19. Children with Learning Disabilities 26% Children with A Learning Disability 74% Children without a Learning Disability

  20. Grandchildren with Learning Disabilities 24% Grandchildren with Learning Disabilities 76% Grandchildren without Learning Disabilities

  21. "I can't tell if I have fair health or poor health. The only thing I know is that I'm hurting all the time and it did not come until I worked on the Lake Apopka farm."

  22. What Do We Want? • Shorter waiting time for doctor’s appointments • Health care we can afford • Specialists who can treat our diseases • Help to pay for prescription medicines • Testing to find out what makes us sick • Help with transportation to the clinic

  23. What Else Do We Need? • Soil testing • Air testing • Water testing • Clean up of pollution • No more pollution in ourneighborhoods

  24. What Else Would Help? • Meetings with leaders to answer our questions and to hear our complaints • Education and information about our health and the health of our community • Agreements with leaders to take our concerns seriously and to take positive action

  25. This project is dedicated to all the men, women, and families who worked in the fields and packinghouses on Lake Apopka. Thank You!

  26. Thanks to all the people who helped with this project -- all the volunteers from the community and the staff of the Farmworker Association.

  27. Next Steps??? www.floridafarmworkers.orgBlog: http://apopkaquiltproject.blogspot.com/"All my life, I have been driven by one dream, one goal, one vision: To overthrow a farm labor system in this nation which treats farm workers as if they were not important human beings." - Cesar Chavez"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."---Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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