California's more than 1 million farmworkers face an increased risk of diabetes, as well as respiratory diseases related to poor air quality, according to articles in the January-March 2010 issue of the University of California’s California Agriculture journal.

Many of California's agriculture-related health problems are unique to the state. The Central Valley has the highest recorded levels of particulate matter in the country, resulting in increased rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses; and recent research points to possible environmental links between pesticide exposure and the risk of diabetes.

In the current California Agriculture, scientists affiliated with UC Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety present original research on potential health effects based on the chemical composition of particulates in ambient air inhaled by laboratory animals in the San Joaquin Valley, and review the role of environmental factors such as pesticide exposure on diabetes rates among California farmworkers. The peer-reviewed articles can be viewed online at http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.org.

"Hired farm workers provide the majority of the workforce for California's labor-intensive agricultural sector, and they also suffer the greatest health burden," says center director Marc Schenker. "California's hired farmworkers face increased risks of morbidity and mortality from respiratory disease, musculoskeletal problems, infectious diseases, stress-related mental health disorders and lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity." The center is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program dedicated to the understanding and prevention of illness and injury in Western agriculture, located at UC Davis.

Also in the January- March 2010 issue of California Agriculture:

Depression and low-income women: In a survey, more than 45 percent of low-income California women were identified as depressed, with women in smaller households at significantly higher risk.

Nurseries and water-quality management: Southern California production nurseries significantly increased their adoption of several best management practices to reduce runoff, limit waste and improve water quality within a 2-year time frame.

Tree pruning and white pine blister rust: A 6-year study found that pruning treatments reduced the incidence and growth of white pine blister rust in sugar pines, the iconic conifer species of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range.

Strawberry breeding and Verticillium wilt: Since 1994, UC researchers have screened more than 480 strawberry genotypes for resistance to Verticillium wilt, and selected for resistance in subsequent crosses. The Verticillium resistance rate in has increased from 35 percent to nearly 80 percent in recent years.

Wine-grape trends and consumer demand: Over the past 30 years, coastal regions have increasingly grown high-priced wines, while inland areas are associated with lower quality wines. Pinot Noir acreage is up while Merlot has declined, and Chardonnay now dominates white wines.

California Agriculture is the University of California’s peer-reviewed journal of research in agricultural, human and natural resources. For a free subscription, visit http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.org, e-mail calag@ucop.edu or call (510) 642-2431 x33.

EDITORS:  To request a hard copy of the journal, e-mail jlbyron@ucdavis.edu.