Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Agricultural Workers - Influence of Exposure Duration and Smoking

Authors

  • Saso Stoleski Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Skopje
  • Jordan Minov Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Skopje
  • Dragan Mijakoski Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Skopje
  • Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska Institute for Occupational Health of Republic of Macedonia - Skopje, WHO Collaborating Center, Ga2len Collaborating Center, Skopje

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2015.014

Keywords:

respiratory health, agriculture, spirometry, smoking, job exposure

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Job exposure in agricultural workers often leads to respiratory impairment.

AIM: To assess the influence of exposure duration and smoking on chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in agricultural workers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study covered 75 agricultural workers, compared with an equal number of office workers matched by age, exposure duration and smoking status. Standardized questionnaire was used to obtain data on chronic respiratory symptoms, job and smoking history. Lung functional testing was performed by spirometry.

RESULTS: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher in agricultural workers, with significant difference for cough (P = 0.034), and dyspnea (P = 0.028). Chronic respiratory symptoms among agricultural workers were significantly associated with duration of exposure (P < 0.05) and daily smoking (P < 0.01), as well as with daily smoking in controls (P < 0.01). The average values of spirometric parameters in exposed workers were significantly different for MEF50 (P = 0.002), MEF75 (P = 0.000), and MEF25-75 (P = 0.049). Obstructive changes in small airways in exposed workers were strongly related to exposure duration (P < 0.05) and smoking (P < 0.01). Agricultural workers with job exposure more than 15 years had more expressed adverse respiratory symptoms and lung function decline.

CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the influence of agricultural exposure and daily smoking on chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, primarily targeting the small airways.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

Heller RF, Kelson MC. Respiratory disease mortality in agricultural workers in eight member countries of the European Community. Int J Epidemiol. 1982;11:170-174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/11.2.170

Toren K, Horte LG, Jarvholm B. Occupation and smoking adjusted mortality due to asthma among Swedish men. Br J Ind Med. 1991;48:323-326. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.48.5.323

Linaker C, Smedley J. Respiratory illness in agricultural workers. Occup Med. 2002; 52:451-459. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/52.8.451

Schenker M. Exposures and health effects from inorganic agricultural dusts. Environ Health Perspect. 2000;108(suppl. 4):661-664. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.00108s4661

Omland O. Exposure and respiratory health in farming in temperate zones - a review of the literature. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2002;9:119-136.

American Thoracic Society Committee of the Scientific Assembly on Environmental and Occupational Health. Adverse effects of crystalline silica exposure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;155:761-768. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.155.2.9032226

Schenker MB, Christiani D, Cormier Y et al. Respiratory health hazard in agriculture. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158:1-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.158.supplement_1.rccm1585s1

Andersen AR. Organic dust toxic syndrome among farmers. Br J Ind Med. 1989;46: 233-238. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.46.4.233

Langley LR. Consequences of respiratory exposures in the farm environment. N C Med J. 2011;72(6):477–480. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.72.6.477

Iversen M, Dahl R, Korsgaard J, Hallas R, Jensen EJ. Respiratory symptoms in Danish farmers: an epidemiological study of risk factors. Thorax. 1988;43:872–877.

Melbostad E, Eduard W, Magnus P. Determinants of asthma in a farming population. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998;24:262–269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.319

Terho E.O, Husman K, Vohlonen I. Prevalence and incidence of chronic bronchitis and farmer’s lung with respect to age, sex, atopy, and smoking. Eur J Respir Dis Suppl. 1987;152:19-28.

Cuthbert OD, Jeffrey IG, McNeill HB, Wood J, Topping MD. Barn allergy among Scottish farmers. Clin Allergy. 1984;14:197-206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.1984.tb02653.x

Siracusa A, Desrosiers M, Marabini A. Epidemiology of occupational rhinitis: prevalence, aetiology and determinants. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000;30:1519-1534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00946.x

Saia B, Mastrangelo G, Marcer G, Reggio O. Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory disease in farming population. Med Lav. 1984;75:101-109.

Melbostad E, Eduard W, Magnus P. Chronic bronchitis in farmers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997;23:271-280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.220

Radon K, Opravil U, Hartung J, Szadkowski D, Nowal D. Work-related respiratory disorders and farming characteristics among cattle farmers in Northern Germany. Am J Ind Med. 1999;36:444-449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199910)36:4<444::AID-AJIM5>3.0.CO;2-9

Dalphin JC. Respiratory pathology in the agricultural environment. Rev Prat. 1998;48:1313-1318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021680400597

Hogg JC, Macklem PT, Thurlbeck WM. Site and nature of airway obstruction in chronic obstructive lung disease. N Engl J Med. 1968;278:1355-1360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM196806202782501

Cosio M, Ghezzo H, Hogg JC, Corbin R, Loveland M, Dosman J, Macklem. PT. The relations between structural changes in small airways and pulmonary function tests. N Engl J Med. 1978;298:1277-1281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197806082982303

Sterling TD, Weinkam JJ. Smoking patterns by occupation, industry, sex, and race. Arch Environ Health. 1978;33:313-317. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1978.10667354

Minette A. Questionnaire of the European Community for Coal and Steel (ECSC) on respiratory symptoms. 1987 - Updating of the 1962 and 1967 questionnaires for studying chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Eur Respir J. 1989;2:165- 177.

European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Variations in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, self-reported asthma attacks, and use of asthma medication in the European Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Eur Respir J. 1996;9:687-695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09040687

World Health Organization. Guidelines for controlling and monitoring the tobacco epidemic. Geneva: WHO, 1998.

Smoking Pack-Years. Available from: http://smokingpackyears.cm/calculate. Accessed 25 November 2014.

US Department of Health and Human Services. The health consequences of smoking: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Assistant for Health, Office of Smoking and Health. DHHS Publication No. 84-50 205,1984.

Quajner PhH, ed. Standardization of Lung Function Tests - 1993 Update. Report Working Party for the European Community for Steel and Coal. Official Statement of the European Rrespiratory Society. Eur Rrespir J. 1993;16(l):1-100.

Stoleski S, Minov M, Karadzinska-Bislimovska J, Mijakoski D. Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in a Sample of Agricultural Workers in Skopje Region. Maced J Med Sci. 2014;7(2):327-334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2014.057

Stoleski S, Minov J, Karadzinska-Bislimovska J, Mijakoski D. Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Farmers: Severity and Work-Relatedness. Maced J Med Sci. 2014;7(3):536-543. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2014.097

Kuchuk A, Basanets A, Louhelainen K. Bronchopulmonary pathology in workers exposed to organic fodder dust. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2000;7:17-23.

Chen Y, Horne SL, McDuffie HH, Dosman JA. Combined effect of grain farming and smoking on lung function and the prevalence of chronic bronchitis. Int J Epidemiol.1991;20(2):416-423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/20.2.416

Radon K, Danuser B, Iversen M, Jörres R, Monso E, Opravil U, et al. Respiratory symptoms in European animal farmers. Eur Respir J. 2001;17:747-754. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.01.17407470

Stellmann S.D, Boffetta P, Garfinkel L. Smoking habits of 800,000 American men and women in relation to their occupations. Am J Ind Med. 1988;13:43-58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700130104

Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, London SJ, Alavanja MC, Sandler DP. Animal production and wheeze in the Agricultural Health Study: Interactions with atopy, asthma, and smoking. Occup Environ Med. 2003;60(8):e3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.60.8.e3

Kimbell-Dunn M.R, Fishwick R.D, Bradshaw L, Erkinjuntti P.R, Pearce N. Work-related respiratory symptoms in New Zealand farmers. Am J Ind Med. 2001;39:292-300. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0274(200103)39:3<292::AID-AJIM1017>3.0.CO;2-F

Tutluoglu B, Atis S, Anakkaya A.N, Altug E, Tosun G.A, Yaman M. Sensitization to horse hair, symptoms and lung function in grooms. Clin Exp Allergy. 2002;32(8):1170-1173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.01439.x

Heller RF, Hayward DM, Farebrother MTB. Lung function of farmers in England and Wales. Thorax. 1986;41:117-121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.41.2.117

Dosman JA, Graham BL, Hall D, Pahwa P, McDuffie HH, Lucewicz M, et al. Respiratory symptoms and alterations in pulmonary function tests in swine producers in Saskatchewan: results of a survey of farmers. J Occup Med. 1988; 30: 715-720.

Cormiers Y, Boulet L-P, Bedard G, Tremblay G. Respiratory health of workers exposed to swine confinement buildings only or to both swine confinement buildings and dairy barns. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1991;17:269-275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.1703

Mazan MR, Svatek J, Maranda L, Christiani D, Ghio A, Nadeau J, et al. Questionnaire assesment of airway disease symptoms in equine barn personel. Occup Med. 2009; 59(4):220-225. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqp003

Omland O, Sigsgaard T, Hjort C, Pedersen OF, Miller MR. Lung status in young Danish rurals: the effect of farming exposure on asthma-like symptoms and lung function. Eur Respir J. 1999;13:31–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.99.13103199

Iversen M, Dahl R, Korsgard J, Hallas T, Jensen EJ. Respiratory symptoms in Danish farmers: an epidemiological study of risk factors. Thorax. 1988;43:872-877. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.43.11.872

Dalphin J. C, Dubiez A, Monnet E, Gora D, Westeel V, Pernet D. Prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in dairy farmers in the French province of the Doubs. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158:1493-1498. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.158.5.9709108

Toren K, Horte LG. Asthma mortality and occupation in Sweden 1981-1992. Am J Ind Med. 1997;31:678-681. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199706)31:6<678::AID-AJIM2>3.0.CO;2-N

Schwartz DA, Donham KJ, Olenchock SA, Popendorf WJ, Scott van Fossen D, Burmeister LF. Determinants of longitudinal changes in spirometric function among swine confinement operators and farmers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;151:47-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.151.1.7812571

Gulec Balbay E, Cakiroglu EB, Arbak P, Balbay O, AvcioÄŸlu F, Belada A. Respiratory symptoms and functions in barn workers. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(1):25-8.

Iversen M, Bronk O, Dahl R. Lung function in a five-year follow-up study of farmers. Ann Agric Environ Med. 1994;1:39-43.

Iversen M, Dahl R. Working in swine-confinement buildings causes an accelerated decline in lung FEV1: a 7-yr follow-up of Danish farmers. Eur Resir J. 2000;16:404-408. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.016003404.x

Kern J, Mustajbegovic J, Schachter E.N, Zuskin E, Vrcic-Keglevic M, Ebling Z, Senta A. Respiratory findings in farmworkers. J Occup Environ Med. 2001;43(10):905-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-200110000-00010

Published

2015-01-13

How to Cite

1.
Stoleski S, Minov J, Mijakoski D, Karadzinska-Bislimovska J. Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Agricultural Workers - Influence of Exposure Duration and Smoking. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2015 Jan. 13 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];3(1):158-65. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/oamjms.2015.014

Issue

Section

E - Public Health

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 > >>