Crystal Grayson |
SCHOOL: The University of Mississippi
MAJOR: Anthropology MENTOR: Dr. Dennis Frate EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE: May 2002 ORGANIZATIONS & HONORS:
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ABSTRACT
Changing Behaviors/Changing Health Risks:
Agricultural Pesticide Education on the Mississippi Delta
| Research shows that the residents of the Mississippi Delta are being exposed to lethal doses of agricultural pesticides yearly. There is a higher concentration of these chemicals being administered in the Delta than in any other area of the state of Mississippi. It is evident that pesticide exposure has a great effect on the health of the population of the Delta. The Delta has a higher cancer mortality rate, infant mortality rate, a greater proportion of low birth weight infants, and a higher percentage of individuals suffering from chronic headaches, respiratory problems, and neurological disorders. It was found that residents do not take necessary safety precautions to avoid being exposed to pesticides. At the present time, educational sessions and interviews are being held throughout the Delta in order to make individuals more aware of the dangers of these chemicals. |