Thesis
Pesticide safety behaviors and resources utilized among Midwest college students
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2021
DOI: 10.17077/etd.005832
Abstract
Although pesticides are widely used in agriculture throughout the midwestern United States, they are considered an occupational hazard. Pesticide safety training and personal protective equipment (PPE) are used to reduce pesticide exposure; however, little is known about whether young agricultural workers receive training, utilize methods to control exposure, and understand their roles in the pesticide application process. Furthermore, little is known about what information resources they utilize to find information about pesticides and whether risk-taking attitudes may impact safety behaviors of young agricultural workers. A survey was conducted to address these gaps. Young agricultural workers were recruited through three collegiate agricultural programs. Among all study participants (n=106), 35.8% had experience applying pesticides with most (65.8%) applying pesticides two or more times in the past year. Most participants who applied pesticides reported receiving pesticide training (76.3%), always wearing gloves (60.5%), and always wearing long pants (76.3%). Most participants also reported never wearing respirators (44.7%) or protective suits (52.6%), but this is likely due to the types of pesticides used and methods of application that do not require these forms of PPE. Almost half (47.4%) were never responsible for making the decision to apply; rather, parents (36.8%) and employers (35.1%) made the decision to apply. Among all participants, the internet was the most utilized source to find information about pesticides (76.4%), with the most common internet resources being university or college (71.6%), the government (69.1%), or pesticide companies (66.7%). Accessibility (90.6%) and speed (78.3%) were the most common reasons for using the internet for information. Misinformation was the most common barrier (80.2%). No statistical significance was found when comparing risk-taking attitudes and safety behaviors. Although findings were limited by sample size, this study was the first step in identifying pesticide safety practices employed (e.g., glove use) by young agricultural workers and how they use the internet for pesticide information. Future studies should continue to examine how young agricultural workers utilize pesticide safety and acquire pesticide information.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Pesticide safety behaviors and resources utilized among Midwest college students
- Creators
- Victor Allen Soupene
- Contributors
- Diane S Rohlman (Advisor)Carri Casteel (Committee Member)Matthew W Nonnenmann (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Date degree season
- Spring 2021
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.005832
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xi, 77 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2021 Victor Allen Soupene
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- color illustrations
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 56-62)
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Pesticides are agrichemicals utilized in the midwestern United States for crop protection. Despite their usefulness, pesticides are considered an occupational hazard. Pesticide safety practices including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), receiving pesticide safety training, and seeking information about pesticides to protect worker safety and health. However, little is known about how these practices are used by young agricultural workers. Additionally, little is known about how risk-taking attitudes may influence pesticide safety behaviors among young agricultural workers. A survey was conducted among college students in the midwestern United States to fill these research gaps.
While only around a third of participants (35.8%) had experience in applying pesticides, most who did have experience reported applying pesticides two times or more (65.8%) in the past year. Additionally, individuals with pesticide application experience utilized safety practices including always wearing gloves (60.5%), always wearing long pants (76.3%), and receiving pesticide training (76.3%). Most individuals reported never wearing respirators (44.7%) or protective suits (52.6%) were never worn, but this is likely due to the types of pesticides used and the methods of application which do not require these forms of PPE. Approximately half do not make the decision to apply pesticides (47.4%), this is decision is typically made by the parent (36.8%) or employer (35.1%). The internet was the source most frequently used to find information about pesticides (76.4%) with the most common online resources being a university or college website (71.6%), the government website (69.1%), or online materials from a pesticide company (66.7%). Reasons for using the internet included accessibility (90.6%) and speed (78.3%). Misinformation (80.2%) was the largest barrier for not using the internet. Lastly, there was no association between risk-taking attitudes and safety behaviors. These findings are the first step in identifying pesticide safety practices used by young agricultural workers and how the internet is employed to find information about pesticides.
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984097168302771
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