Research showcase to offer educational opportunity on farm worker health issues

Public health researchers will be showcasing some interactive exhibits in Granger on Friday so the community can learn about their work addressing agricultural health issues in the Yakima Valley.

The event, organized by El Proyecto Bienestar (Well-being Project), will include displays and activities related to issues facing local farm workers like asthma, heat exposure, air pollution, pesticides and sexual harassment.

“This is specifically to educate people who work in the (agricultural) industry and who have family in the industry, because oftentimes they’re in close proximity” to risk factors like pesticides that workers may bring home from the fields on their clothing,” said Dennise Drury, program coordinator with the University of Washington’s Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health (PNASH) Center, one of the partners on the event.

El Proyecto Bienestar is a collaborative community health intervention effort that includes the UW, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Radio KDNA, Heritage University, and the Northwest Communities Education Center.

Dr. Catherine Karr, a researcher who’s been working with Farm Workers on in-home solutions to pediatric asthma for many years, will be at the event to discuss asthma as well as other projects, like efforts to develop low-cost sensors to monitor the impact of wood smoke on rural communities.

This is the first event of its kind, said PNASH program manager Marcy Harrington, and they hope to have a couple hundred people attend.

It’s an opportunity to share their ongoing research not just with the families who have participated in the studies, but with the broader farm worker community, she said.

“We’re hoping it does reach people, and that they learn a little something about research and are also more mindful about environmental and occupational safety hazards, and they can be part of the solutions,” Harrington said.

The free, family-friendly event is 5-8 p.m. on Friday at the Radio KDNA office at 121 Sunnyside Ave. in Granger.