Occupational exposures and migration factors associated with respiratory health in California Latino farm workers: the MICASA study.

Objective: To evaluate associations of agricultural work and migration on self-reported respiratory symptoms in a Latino farm worker sample.

Methods: Work history and respiratory symptoms were assessed in 702 workers through interviews in a community-based cohort.

Results: Prevalence was 6% for asthma, 5% for chronic cough, 3% for chronic bronchitis, and 7% for persistent wheeze.

Agricultural work exposures and pulmonary function among hired farm workers in California (the MICASA study).

Despite California's dependence on hired farm labor, scarce research has been conducted on the respiratory health of hired farm workers. Agricultural exposures to inorganic and organic dusts can adversely affect an individual's respiratory health and differ by farm type and job task. The purpose of the present analysis was to examine associations between agricultural work exposures and pulmonary function among 450 California farm workers.

Region of birth, sex, and reproductive health in rural immigrant latino farmworkers: the MICASA study.

Purpose: Characterize sexual and reproductive health among immigrant Latino farmworkers.

Methods: We surveyed 806 immigrant Latino farmworkers from Mexico and Central America in a rural agricultural community in California's Central Valley.

Findings: A total of 556 respondents were born in Mexico (272 men, 284 women) and 250 in Central America (135 men, 115 women).

Concentrations of the urinary pyrethroid metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid in farm worker families in the MICASA study.

Indoor pesticide exposure is a growing concern, particularly from pyrethroids, a commonly used class of pesticides. Pyrethroid concentrations may be especially high in homes of immigrant farm worker families who often live in close proximity to agricultural fields, and are faced with poor housing conditions, causing higher pest infestation and more pesticide use. We investigate exposure of farm worker families to pyrethroids in a study of mothers and children living in Mendota, CA within the population-based Mexican Immigration to California: Agricultural Safety and Acculturation (MICASA) Study.

Demographic and migration-related risk factors for low-level smoking in a farm working sample of Latinos (the MICASA study).

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. Research regarding the phenomenon of low-level smoking, defined as smoking one to five cigarettes per day (CPD) on average, is increasing as its high prevalence is better recognized.

Pyrethroids in house dust from the homes of farm worker families in the MICASA study.

Indoor pesticide exposure is a growing concern, particularly for pyrethroids, a commonly used class of pesticides. Pyrethroid concentrations may be especially high in homes of immigrant farm worker families, who often live in close proximity to agricultural fields and are faced with poor housing conditions, potentially causing high pest infestation and pesticide use. We investigate levels of pyrethroids in the house dust of farm worker family homes in a study of mothers and children living in Mendota, CA, within the population-based Mexican Immigration to California: Agricultural Safety and Acculturation (MICASA) Study.

Acculturation-related predictors of very light smoking among Latinos in California and nationwide.

The prevalence of light smoking has increased among Latinos. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic and acculturation-related factors associated with very light smoking, defined as smoking 1-5 cigarettes per day (CPD), among Latinos in California and nationwide. Latino smokers in the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) or the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) were analyzed.

Adherence to dietary recommendations is associated with acculturation among Latino farm workers.

We examined adherence to dietary recommendations on fruit/vegetable and fat intake and identified correlates with acculturation indicators as well as with family, lifestyle, and occupational factors in a farm worker cohort in central California. Interviewer-administered questionnaires for this cross-sectional study were completed from January 2006 to April 2007. Participants were 18- to 55-y-old Latinos living in Mendota in a farm worker household.

Agricultural injury in California Hispanic farm workers: MICASA follow-up survey.

The authors report here results from the first follow-up survey of the Mexican Immigration to California: Agricultural Safety and Acculturation (MICASA) cohort of community-dwelling immigrant Hispanic farm workers in California's Central Valley. Among 560 participants the authors observed cumulative 1-year injury incidence of 6.6% (all injuries) and 4.

Agricultural work and chronic musculoskeletal pain among Latino farm workers: the MICASA study.

Background: Agriculture poses varied dangers to hired farm workers in the U.S., but little information exists on occupational risks for chronic musculoskeletal pain.

A pilot binational study of health behaviors and immigration.

In the US, Mexican immigrant women often have better health outcomes than non-Hispanic white women despite a greater health risk profile. This cross-sectional pilot study compared women living in Chavinda, Michoacán (n = 102) to women who had migrated from Mexico to Madera, California (n = 93). The interview gathered information on acculturation and risk behaviors including smoking, alcohol use and number of sexual partners.