Groups Grill EPA on PPE Shortage for Pesticide Work on Farms

A critical shortage of protective gear risks endangering tens of thousands of farm workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, public health advocates told the EPA Wednesday.

Just as health care workers need personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect them from viruses and diseases, many agricultural workers rely on the same kind of masks, gloves, and respirators to protect themselves from toxic chemicals and pesticides.

Of primary concern to farmworker groups was whether the Environmental Protection Agency is moving fast enough to address the risks agricultural workers face, both from exposure to pesticides and heightened exposure to Covid-19 in the summer harvest ...