Integrating portable X-Ray fluorescence and personal air sampling into ethnographic field research during agrichemical fumigation in an avocado orchard: field challenges encountered and lessons learned.

objectiveThe purpose of this research was to pilot a methodology for integrating portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), personal air sampling, and ethnographic field notes during an agrichemical fumigation event in a commercial avocado orchard in Michoacán, Mexico. Portable exposure-assessment technologies are increasingly used in field research; however, there remains limited methodological demonstration of how ethnographers can integrate these instruments into real-time observation and analysis.

resultsInstrument outputs were aligned with ethnographic documentation of movement, labor practices, and routine activities during fumigation. This approach revealed short-duration exposure dynamics linked to specific practices across environmental matrices, including airborne particulates and orchard surfaces. The field deployment also revealed substantial workflow and ergonomic constraints, particularly related to time-stamping observations, synchronizing instrument outputs with field notes, and managing cognitive load while operating multiple devices. This study is not intended to offer a comprehensive exposure characterization. Instead, it provides a methodological demonstration based on data from a single fumigation event. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of integrating portable analytical instruments into ethnographic fieldwork while highlighting practical considerations for researchers conducting environmental and occupational exposure assessments.