Respiratory Health Risks in Farmers

Editorials1 September 1981Respiratory Health Risks in FarmersDONALD W. COCKCROFT, M.D., JAMES A. DOSMAN, M.D.DONALD W. COCKCROFT, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JAMES A. DOSMAN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-95-3-380 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptFarmers may be at risk to develop several respiratory health disorders as a result of inhalation of substances suspended in their environment. Despite the large numbers of farmers in Canada and the United States, information on their respiratory health status remains limited (1-3) and epidemiologic studies relating respiratory symptoms to lung function in farmers have just begun (4, 5). Recent work has suggested that workmen in the cereal grain storage and transporting industry are at risk of developing obstructive pulmonary disease (6-9), and because farmers are exposed to grain dust, they too may be at risk.There seems little doubt...References1. KNAPP L. State of the Art Report on Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture. Washington, D.C.; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 1974. Contract no. 4SM-99-OSH-145(2). Google Scholar2. DONHAM K. Respiratory hazards of livestock confinement workers. In: Proceedings of the VII International Congress of Rural Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, 17-21 September 1978. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Excerpta Medica; 1978:224-34. Google Scholar3. LAWHORNE L. The health of farmers. J Iowa Med Soc. 1976;66:409-10, 412-8. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. KAY K. Agricultural health and hygiene—with special reference to the Canadian position. Environ Res. 1971;4:440-68. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. WARRENMANFREDA CJ. Respiratory symptoms in grain farmers: a brief report. In: DOSMAN JA, COTTON DJ eds. Occupational Pulmonary Disease: Focus on Grain Dust and Health. New York: Academic Press; 1980. Google Scholar6. BRODERMINTZHUTCHEON ISM. Comparison of respiratory variables in grain elevator workers and civic outside workers of Thunder Bay, Canada. Am Rev Resp Dis. 1979;119:193-203. MedlineGoogle Scholar7. CHAN-YEUNGSHULZERMACLEANDORKENGRZYBOWSKI MMLES. Epidemiologic health survey of grain elevator workers in British Columbia. Am Rev Resp Dis. 1980;121:329-38. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. DOPICOREDDANFLAHERTYTSIATISPETERSRAORANKIN GWDAMPJ. Respiratory abnormalities among grainhandlers: a clinical, physiologic and immunologic study. Am Rev Resp Dis. 1977;115:915-27. MedlineGoogle Scholar9. DOSMANCOTTONGRAHAMLIFROHBARNETT JDBKFG. Chronic bronchitis and decreased forced expiratory flow rates in lifetime nonsmoking grain workers. Am Rev Resp Dis. 1980; 121:11-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar10. 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Thermophilic actinomycetes as a source of "farmer's lung hay" antigen. Lancet. 1963;2:607-11. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar17. HARGREAVEPEPYSLONGBOTTOMWRAITH FJJD. Bird breeder's (fancier's) lung. Lancet. 1966;1:445-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. EMANUELWENZELLAWTON DFB. Pulmonary mycotoxicosis. Chest. 1975;67:293-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar19. BECKLAKE M. Grain dust and health: state of the art. In: DOSMAN JA, COTTON DJ, eds. Occupational Pulmonary Disease: Focus on Grain Dust and Health. New York: Academic Press; 1980. Google Scholar20. OSBERNCRAPO LR. Dung lung: a report of toxic exposure to liquid manure. Ann Intern Med. 1981;95:312-4. LinkGoogle Scholar1. Three suffocate in saving boy in abandoned septic tank. New York Times. 1981 June 15: A16 (col. 2-5). Google Scholar2. BERLIN C. Death from anoxia in an abandoned cesspool. Ann Intern Med. 1981;95:387. Letter. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Deaths associated with liquid-manure systems—United States. 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Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Section of Respiratory Medicine Department of Medicine University Hospital University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine Saskatoon, Saskatchewan PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByDevelopment of methodology to document and code farm-related injuries and fatalities involving manure storage, handling and transport - with summary of 2017 incidentsEvaluation of a Respiratory Health Program for Farmers and Their FamiliesSurvey of Health and Use Characterization of Pesticide Appliers in MinnesotaAcute Toxic InhalationsOccupational Health and the Rural Worker: Agriculture, Mining and LoggingOccupational Obstructive Disorders: Nonspecific Airways Obstruction and Occupational AsthmaIssues in agricultural health and safetyMigrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the United States: A Review of Health Hazards, Status, and PolicyFeed-Associated Respiratory Illness in FarmersFréquence de l'allergie pollinique chez les agriculteurs par rapport aux autres catégories socio-professionnelles Enquête rétrospective sur trois ans 1 September 1981Volume 95, Issue 3Page: 380-383KeywordsDustEpidemiologyHealth information technologyInhalationLungsPulmonary diseases Issue Published: 1 September 1981 PDF DownloadLoading ...