In 2020, amidst the wildfires in Sonoma County, California, Maria Salinas persisted in harvesting grapes as ash descended and smoke enveloped the surroundings.
His saliva turned black from inhaling the toxic fumes, leading him to seek emergency medical care on one occasion due to breathing difficulties. Upon recuperating, he promptly returned to work, undeterred by the ongoing fires.
“The compulsion to work stems from necessity,” remarked Salinas, hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico. “Out of necessity, we constantly put ourselves in peril, be it from fire, disaster, changing weather conditions, whether hot or cold.”
In the United States, the frequency and severity of forest fires are escalating due to climate change. Recent studies indicate that wildfires pose health hazards to migrant agricultural laborers like Salinas, who toil in fire-prone regions. This revelation emerges against a backdrop of wildfire smoke pervading many parts of the western U.S.
Farmers confront immense pressure to work under hazardous circumstances. Many endure low incomes and solely earn wages while actively working. Those who lack legal status face heightened vulnerability due to language barriers, limited access to social services, discrimination, and exploitation. These factors collectively impede their ability to secure improved working conditions and fundamental rights.
“The frontlines of the climate crisis are expanding,” observed Max Bell Alper, executive director of the North Bay Jobs with Justice labor coalition, during a webinar discussing an article published in the GeoHealth journal in July. He emphasized that farmers are “bearing the brunt firsthand, illustrating what the rest of us are just beginning to comprehend…and this pattern is unfolding nationwide.”
Alper, whose nonprofit operates in Sonoma and adjacent counties, highlighted that a majority of farmers are immigrants and Native Americans, with a rising number of women laboring in vineyards. Conversely, the majority of wine industry proprietors are white males, he noted.
In a photo gallery depicting efforts to combat wildfires in California, residents of a hillside area in San Bernardino evacuated their homes to evade a looming forest fire.
Researchers delved into the 2020 wildfires in Sonoma, renowned for its wine production. Despite evacuation mandates and perceived peril, numerous farmers persisted in grape harvesting. Smoke and ash contamination escalated, intensifying the pressure to retain workers in the fields.
Analyzing pollution data from AirNow and PurpleAir monitors during the fires, researchers discovered that farm laborers were exposed to elevated levels of air pollution. Discrepancies emerged between AirNow and PurpleAir data, with the former indicating 21 days of hazardous air for sensitive groups and 13 days for all from July 31 to November 6, 2020, whereas PurpleAir monitors registered 27 and 16 days, respectively.
Michael Mendez, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, contended that AirNow data inadequately represented farmers’ working conditions. Notably, smoke intensity often peaked at night, prompting some employers to schedule nighttime shifts, citing cooler temperatures and decreased smoke concentration as beneficial for grape cultivation.
The study also scrutinized the Agricultural Pass program, revealing deficiencies in approval protocols and standards. Researchers advocated for increased awareness of the hardships rural workers face during wildfires, emphasizing the exacerbation of labor rights violations and societal injustices in such crises.
Irva Hertz-Picciotto, a UC Davis professor, highlighted immediate health risks posed by inhaling wildfire smoke, ranging from eye irritation to respiratory distress. Fine particulate matter in smoke, notably PM2.5, can infiltrate the bloodstream, increasing susceptibility to cardiovascular ailments, respiratory conditions, and low birth weight. Prolonged exposure compounded by extreme heat can compound health risks, potentially exacerbating conditions like dementia.
While the long-term health implications of smoke inhalation remain largely unknown, the study’s authors underscored the urgency of safeguarding farmworkers’ health and welfare in evacuation zones. Recommendations included funding for post-exposure health screenings, multilingual emergency response plans, comprehensive documentation of farmworker numbers and locations, installation of air quality monitors at workplaces, compensation during high air pollution days, and post-disaster evaluation of the Agricultural Pass program.
Anayeli Guzmán and Maria Salinas emphasized that improved wages would significantly benefit farmers like themselves, essential contributors to the nation’s food supply chain. Hertz-Picciotto underscored the moral imperative of protecting agricultural laborers, urging concrete measures based on the study’s findings to rectify existing injustices and safeguard the well-being of farmworkers.