José suffered second-degree skin burns from a pesticide. Marta developed cancer after years of working in the fields and applying pesticides to crops. Carlos was born without limbs after his pregnant mother was repeatedly exposed to pesticides while picking tomatoes in Florida and North Carolina.

We learn their stories from National Fellows Patricia Clarembaux and Federica Narancio Genesi, who along with colleague Esther Poveda embarked on a multimedia project for Univision Noticias, co-published by Investigate Midwest, reporting on the effects of pesticide exposure on farmworkers.

Their investigation was carried out using unique reporting tools — silicone wristbands developed by a lab to detect up to 75 types of pesticides. The reporters’ two-year journey took them to Florida, Michigan and North Carolina, where they asked 10 farmworkers to wear the wristbands for at least a week. The wristbands detected 18 pesticides, some linked to an increased risk of cancer, reproductive problems, and neurological diseases, among other possible adverse health effects.

“The findings were consistent with other research showing that ‘all agricultural workers are exposed to a wide range of pesticides consistently across the agricultural seasons,’ as a medical anthropologist who helped analyze the results told us,” the reporters write in an essay for the Center.

The three reporters continue to build on their reporting and host community events to engage with farmworkers and share their findings.

“We’re proud that our project has successfully amplified the stories of those most affected by pesticide exposure. Hopefully, we’ve increased the sense of urgency to protect them,” Clarembaux, Genesi and Poveda said.