Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
normal to have a headache, even with no chemical products
involved. Or it is normal feeling a pain in the back. Same as not
feeling well. Because of the poor living conditions and bad diet,
how can one say which symptoms are related to chemicals and
which to being tired or not eating well enough? (Agricultural
engineer, Luis Carrancio, INTA Oliveros)
Health risks linked to horticultural production
Respondents' perceptions regarding problems associated with growing
vegetables varied according to the positions they held on the farm. For
instance, owners and workers perceived problems differently. Respondents
attached different meanings to health problems they were aicted with and
set forth different strategies for solving them. It was evident that in solving
health problems priority was given to issues that interfered with work and
everyday life.
While serious problems are dealt with in the hospital, health staff pointed
out that the workers in the quintas did not seek medical attention very often,
partly because of their concept of health and illness. Workers considered
getting treatment for an illness only when they experienced disability or
limited movement that interfered with their work. The reluctance to seek help
made it di
cult for health care workers to make any progress against
preventable diseases. In fact, the lack of information on such problems
prevents the exposure of factors related to the overexploitation of workers,
the overuse of chemicals in order to produce 'perfect' produce and
unnecessary environmental deterioration of soil and water. This situation is
exacerbated in the absence of governmental regulations.
When workers are asked about their existing health problems or whether
they had experienced any the previous year, the answer tended to be 'nothing,
luckily enough' or 'none, thank God'. However, they then continued to
describe recent hospitalization for themselves or somebody else and avoided
discussing major health challenges such as hypertension, which requires daily
medication. Also, during interviews, respondents willingly presented their
neighbours' surgical history, injuries and other illnesses. A review of clinical
data corroborated these findings.
C
ONCLUSION AND
R
ECOMMENDATIONS
This research was conducted with the support of the Rosario City Hall and
the National University of Rosario. The arrangement between a public
educational institution and the city authority in charge of formulating and
executing policies is a novel approach that provided benefits to all involved.
The research was designed as an introduction to some of the factors that
influence health risks and exposure on farms in peri-urban Rosario. Through
interviews with medical professionals,
farmers and labourers,
several
