Congress maintains that the nine month suspension allows enough time for the EPA to provide necessary training and safety manuals to help farmers comply with the regulations. Materials had not been distributed by the EPA in time for the original start up date. Despite claims that there is a low incidence of pesticide poisoning in the U.S., evidence shows that a significant number of farmworkers suffer from pesticide-related illnesses. The EPA estimates that 20,000 people are poisoned. Farmworker advocates say that figures are low because many poisonings go unreported, especially since farmworkers may often have no health insurance or transportation to the hospital.
People of color suffer a disproportionate number of pesticide poisonings.
This combined with the structural and social conditions that dominate life in the U.S. agricultural sector increases the risk of pesticide exposure for ethnic minorities. The Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc. anticipates further attacks on the WPS when Congress holds hearings on the rules this summer. The fund is asking people to contact their legislators urging them to support the standard without further delays, while directing the EPA to strengthen the protections thereby preventing unnecessary injury and illness.