http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/57426.html

Farmworkers sick after exposure, union says

BY SHELLIE BRANCO, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sbranco@bakersfield.com | Friday, Jun 16 2006 9:30 PM

Last Updated: Friday, Jun 16 2006 9:34 PM

Three women farmworkers from Kern County became sick Wednesday afternoon after they were exposed to a chemical crop spray while working in a Ducor vineyard, according to the United Farm Workers.

UFW organizers Ana Martinez and Armando Elenes said the women inhaled the unknown substance sprayed by a Giumarra Vineyards tractor 50 to 100 feet away.

John Giumarra, vice president of the company, said the women did not come into contact with the spray, which had fertilizer in it. He said all regulations were adhered to and the spray was applied appropriately.

Celia Roque and Maria De La Luz of Bakersfield and Aurelia Paredes of Lamont were exposed to the spray around 1 p.m., Martinez said.

An ambulance took Roque to Sierra View District Hospital in Porterville and she was released later that day. The other women were not hospitalized, Martinez said.

Giumarra said preliminary medical reports showed Roque and Paredes did not have pesticide-related injuries and showed symptoms of urinary tract infections.

He said the company referred the two women to a private practice that deals with workers' compensation cases. De La Luz was not ill, he added.

Roque was feeling dizzy and weak Friday, Elenes said.

Martinez of the UFW said Paredes also was not doing well Thursday. The UFW organizers had no information on the conditions of Paredes and De La Luz on Friday.

Elenes said the UFW is requesting the company's pesticide use report from the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner to determine the substance involved.