...uses electron microscopy and spectroscopy to analyze the surface chemistry of fibers she's engineering into clothing that offers protection against chemical and biological hazards. Some of the fibers are tailored to detect specific environmental hazards, and some may be smart enough to decontaminate themselves.

Protecting Agricultural Workers

Obendorf's interest in protective clothing coincided with her concern about pesticide exposure among agricultural workers, who number about 1.3 billion worldwide, including 3.3. million people in the United States. Agriculture is ranked as one of the three most hazardous industries in both developing and industrialized countries. According to the Pan American Health Organization, regional office of the World Health Organization, an estimated 3 percent of exposed agricultural workers suffer from an episode of acute pesticide poisoning every year. That could mean as many as 39 million people. When it doesn't kill, pesticide poisoning can produce irreversible tissue damage; chronic respiratory, gastrointestinal, allergic, and neurological symptoms; damage to the immune system; reproductive disorders; cancer; and much more--all of which are preventable.

"More than 900 pesticides were actively registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005," says Obendorf. "These are sold in the form of 19,350 products or formulations."

In addition to the challenges presented by that variety of hazardous chemicals, Obendorf and her research team face particular obstacles in designing protective clothing for agricultural workers who work outdoors, often in hot, humid conditions. They need comfortable clothing that offers breathability. What this means in terms of fabric construction, Obendorf explains, is that the structure of the fabric needs to have open spaces, or...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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