| This dissertation uses a case study of the chronic technological hazard associated with agricultural pesticide use in the intensively irrigated Imperial Valley, California, to develop and test a theoretical framework for the study of such hazards. This work is based on previous theoretical constructs from the fields of hazards, risk analysis, and risk perception. The framework consists of a definition and a set of questions that can be used to characterize, describe, and analyze the hazard and related community perception and response. A multimode methodology for broad-based hazard analysis using both qualitative and quantitative methods was developed to operationalize the framework. Specific techniques employed include map analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, spatial overlay analysis, content analysis, structured interviews, and participant observation. Evaluation of the hazard analysis results employed both Palm's framework for hazards research and Glantz's thresholds of hazard evolution. The case study confirmed widespread pesticide hazard in the Imperial Valley. Spatially, the hazard is greatest in the northwest and southeast quadrants of the valley and lowest in the larger cities, where agricultural pesticide use is limited. Temporally, spring and fall are the times of greatest hazard. Pesticide use was found to have adversely impacted the environment. Some community organizations were found to perceive the hazard. No actual harm to human health was documented. The hazard was found to exist in a highly specialized community that is economically and socially dependent on agriculture, the source of the hazard. The research showed that the hazard from pesticide use in the Imperial Valley is not uniformly recognized by the community, there is no consensus as to the source of the hazard, nor is there agreement concerning the approach to be taken for hazard management. Contributing to this lack of consensus were differences between regulating agencies in hazard definition and assessment. The potential for hazard from pesticide use in the Imperial Valley to disproportionately affect the health and welfare of at-risk populations was quantified and mitigation measures proposed. The utility of the framework in analyzing the case study and its potential application to other instances of chronic technological hazard were evaluated. |
