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Kavanagh R, Douglas P, Keaver L. Qualitative Analysis Following the Delivery of a Farmer Lifestyle Program. J Agromedicine 2024; 29:451-460. [PMID: 38629408 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2024.2343400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irish farmers are adversely affected by noncommunicable diseases. Although there has been an increase in farmer health promotion activities in Ireland, farmers views on lifestyle programs are currently unknown. OBJECTIVES To qualitatively analyze the impact of the previously mentioned 6-week physical activity and health education intervention on farmer health and to investigate how best to support this cohort moving forward. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted online (two interviews, three focus groups) with fourteen Irish farmers (53.5 ± 6.5 years) who completed the 6-week program in December 2019. Interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. RESULTS The main themes that emerged from this study were barriers, facilitators, and recommendations for lifestyle programs aimed to improve farmer health. Additional views on health and lifestyle behaviors were mentioned. Time of year was reported as the main barrier for farmers to engage in lifestyle programs. The key facilitators reported by farmers were the social health benefits obtained from the program and the farmer-specific nature of the program. Farmers suggested that physical activity and health education programs that are farmer-specific, delivered locally and catering for all fitness abilities should be more widely available to them. Although some farmers reported that they maintained the lifestyle behaviors they established during the initial 6-week program, follow-up supports are needed to encourage sustainable behavior change. CONCLUSIONS Interventions that are farmer-specific, community-based, and feasible within the context of available resources may be effective in improving farmer health. Working in partnership with organizations that support farmers has the potential to improve farmer health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pauline Douglas
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Laura Keaver
- Department of Health and Nutritional Science, Atlantic Technological University Sligo, Sligo, Ireland
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Adhikari A, Banerjee P, Thornton T, Jones DH, Adeoye C, Sherpa S. Exposure Levels of Airborne Fungi, Bacteria, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Cotton Farms during Cotton Harvesting and Evaluations of N95 Respirators against These Bioaerosols. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1561. [PMID: 37375063 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The USA is the third-leading cotton-producing country worldwide and cotton farming is common in the state of Georgia. Cotton harvest can be a significant contributor to airborne microbial exposures to farmers and nearby rural communities. The use of respirators or masks is one of the viable options for reducing organic dust and bioaerosol exposures among farmers. Unfortunately, the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR Part 1910.134) does not apply to agricultural workplaces and the filtration efficiency of N95 respirators was never field-tested against airborne microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during cotton harvesting. This study addressed these two information gaps. Airborne culturable microorganisms were sampled using an SAS Super 100 Air Sampler in three cotton farms during cotton harvesting, and colonies were counted and converted to airborne concentrations. Genomic DNA was extracted from air samples using a PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit. A series of comparative critical threshold (2-ΔΔCT) real-time PCR was used to quantify targeted bacterial (16S rRNA) genes and major ARGs. Two N95 facepiece respirator models (cup-shaped and pleated) were evaluated for their protection against culturable bacteria and fungi, total microbial load in terms of surface ATP levels, and ARGs using a field experimental setup. Overall, culturable microbial exposure levels ranged between 103 and 104 CFU/m3 during cotton harvesting, which was lower when compared with bioaerosol loads reported earlier during other types of grain harvesting. The findings suggested that cotton harvesting works can release antibiotic resistance genes in farm air and the highest abundance was observed for phenicol. Field experimental data suggested that tested N95 respirators did not provide desirable >95% protections against culturable microorganisms, the total microbial load, and ARGs during cotton harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atin Adhikari
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA
| | - Pratik Banerjee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Taylor Thornton
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA
| | - Daleniece Higgins Jones
- Department of Public Health, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Caleb Adeoye
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA
| | - Sonam Sherpa
- Department of Health Policy and Community Health, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA
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Rodríguez García C, Ruano-Ravina A, Pérez Ríos M, Martín Gisbert L, Varela-Lema L, Candal-Pedreira C, Represas-Represas C, Rey-Brandariz J, Valdés-Cuadrado L, Agustí A. Clinical characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in never-smokers: A systematic review. Respir Med 2023; 214:107284. [PMID: 37211258 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third cause of death worldwide. While tobacco smoking is a key risk factor, COPD also occurs in never-smokers (NS). However, available evidence on risk factors, clinical characteristics, and natural history of the disease in NS is scarce. Here, we perform a systematic review of the literature to better describe the characteristics of COPD in NS. METHODS We searched different databases following the PRISMA guidelines with explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. A purpose-designed quality scale was applied to the studies included in the analysis. It was not possible to pool the results due to the high heterogeneity of the studies included. RESULTS A total of 17 studies that met the selection criteria were included, albeit only 2 of them studied NS exclusively. The total number of participants in these studies were 57,146 subjects,25,047 of whom were NS and 2655 of the latter had NS-COPD. Compared to COPD in smokers, COPD in NS is more frequent in women and older ages, and is associated with a slightly higher prevalence of comorbidities. There are not enough studies to understand if COPD progression and clinical symptoms in NS are different to that of ever-smokers. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant knowledge gap on COPD in NS. Given that COPD in NS account for about a third of all COPD patients in the world, particularly in low-middle income countries, and the decrease in tobacco consumption in high income countries, understanding COPD in NS constitutes a public-health priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlota Rodríguez García
- Pulmonology Department, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Interdisciplinary Research Group in Pulmonology, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alberto Ruano-Ravina
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública/CIBERESP), Spain; Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela - IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Cross-disciplinary Research in Environmental Technologies (CRETUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Mónica Pérez Ríos
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública/CIBERESP), Spain; Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela - IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Lucía Martín Gisbert
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela - IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Cross-disciplinary Research in Environmental Technologies (CRETUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Leonor Varela-Lema
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública/CIBERESP), Spain; Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela - IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Cristina Candal-Pedreira
- Interdisciplinary Research Group in Pulmonology, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Cristina Represas-Represas
- Respiratory Medicine, Alvaro Cunqueiro University Teaching Hospital, Vigo, Spain; Grupo NeumoVigo I+i, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur (IISGS), Vigo, Spain
| | - Julia Rey-Brandariz
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Luis Valdés-Cuadrado
- Pulmonology Department, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Interdisciplinary Research Group in Pulmonology, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago, Spain
| | - Alvar Agustí
- Catedra Salud Respiratoria, Universidad de Barcelona, Institut Respiratori, Clinic Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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O' Brien C, Kingston L, Plant BJ, Coffey A. Lung Health in Farming: A Scoping Review. J Agromedicine 2023; 28:335-345. [PMID: 36773027 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2023.2178573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lung disease is now recognized as an associated occupational hazard among farming and agricultural communities, however limited research surrounds lung health knowledge within our farming population. It is clear from this limited lack of knowledge that farming practices, perceptions and ideas relating to lung health are yet to be uncovered. This scoping review was conducted to identify what is known about lung health within farming and agricultural communities globally and to map the available evidence relating to lung health and lung health decline within this population. The objectives of this review were (1) focus on available lung health research from a global perspective specific to farming and agriculture relating to occupational lung exposures and (2) consolidate current knowledge, clearly identifying gaps within the literature. METHODS This systematic scoping review of the literature is guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology framework. There were 22 studies eligible for inclusion within the scoping review, providing an up-to-date review of research conducted on lung health and lung disease in farming occupations. RESULTS Results were grouped into three categories emerging from included studies: (1) focused on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms/disease within farming and agricultural occupations, (2) measurements of dust and particulate matter and correlating these with respiratory conditions, (3) common respiratory conditions linked to a decline in lung health among farming and agricultural occupations. Results identified no study focused on or referred to lung health, lung health knowledge or lung health awareness as an outcome, with all studies focusing on respiratory symptoms, development of lung disease and the common occupational hazards this population are exposed to. CONCLUSION This scoping review demonstrates the lack of literature to specifically map available evidence relating to lung health and farming occupations. Many respiratory symptoms and conditions can arise directly and indirectly from agricultural environments, however many of these cases could be prevented by lung health knowledge within the farming population. The results of this scoping review will be used to inform knowledge, awareness, education, health promotion and future research within this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara O' Brien
- Department of Nursing and Health Care Sciences, Munster Technological University, Kerry, Ireland.,Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Liz Kingston
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Barry J Plant
- Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Alice Coffey
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Trearty K, Bunting B, Mallett J. Data report on three datasets: Mortality patterns between agricultural and non-agricultural ward areas. Front Genet 2023; 13:953167. [PMID: 36685977 PMCID: PMC9851396 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.953167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The health of the farming community in Northern Ireland (NI) requires further research as previous mortality studies have reported contradictory results regarding farmers' health outcomes compared against other occupations and the general population. This study collated the NINIS area-level farm census with the population census information across 582 non-overlapping wards of NI to compile three mortality datasets (2001, 2011, and pooled dataset) (NISRA 2019). These datasets allow future researchers to investigate the influence of demographic, farming, and economic predictors on all-cause mortality at the ward level. The 2001 and 2011 mortality datasets were compiled for cross-sectional analyses and subsequently pooled for longitudinal analyses. Findings from these datasets will provide evidence of the influence of Farming Intensity scores influence on death risk within the wards for future researchers to utilise. This data report will aid in the understanding of socio-ecological variables' additive contribution to the risk of death at the ward level within NI. This data report is of interest to the One Health research community as it standardises the environment-human-animal data to pave the way towards a new One Health research paradigm. For example, future researchers can use this nationally representative data to investigate whether agriculturally saturated wards have a higher mortality risk than non-agriculturally based wards of NI.
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Wadani ZH, Azam I, Irfan M, Fatmi Z. Pesticides Use and Impaired Lung Function Among Male Agricultural Farmers in Rural Sindh, Pakistan. Asia Pac J Public Health 2021; 34:230-235. [PMID: 34911377 DOI: 10.1177/10105395211065647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Use of pesticides implicated in decrement in lung function, manifested as restrictive or obstructive dysfunction or both. Using comparative cross-sectional study design, authors conducted the study to determine an association of pesticide use with impairment in lung function (restrictive/obstructive pattern of lung function) among agricultural farmers. The data were collected using modified American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Disease (ATS-DLD-78A) questionnaire and spirometer measurements. Using multinomial logistic regression, the risk of both restrictive and obstructive lung dysfunction was found to be almost twice among pesticides users with each increasing year of exposure to pesticides (1.92 and 1.95, respectively) after adjusting for other covariates. There is a need for reliable monitoring and reporting procedures along with appropriate environmental policies and regulations for handling of pesticides. Interventional studies are needed where farmers could be trained on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to limit the exposure to pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahid Hyder Wadani
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Iqbal Azam
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zafar Fatmi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
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Coffman VR, Hall DJ, Pisanic N, Nadimpalli M, McCormack M, Diener‐West M, Davis MF, Heaney CD. Personal protective equipment use during industrial hog operation work activities and acute lung function changes in a prospective worker cohort, North Carolina 2014-2015. Am J Ind Med 2021; 64:688-698. [PMID: 34091939 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Occupational activities related to industrial hog operation (IHO) worker lung function are not well defined. Therefore, we aimed to identify IHO work activities associated with diminished respiratory function and the effectiveness, if any, of personal protective equipment (PPE) use on IHOs. METHODS From 2014 to 2015, 103 IHO workers were enrolled and followed for 16 weeks. At each biweekly visit, work activities and PPE use were self-reported via questionnaire and lung function measurements were collected via spirometry. Generalized linear and linear fixed-effects models were fitted to cross-sectional and longitudinal data. RESULTS Increasing years worked on an IHO were associated with diminished lung function, but baseline and longitudinal work activities were largely inconsistent in direction and magnitude. Unexpectedly, a -0.3 L (95% confidence interval: -0.6, -0.04) difference in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1 ) was estimated when workers wore PPE consistently (≥80% of the time at work) versus those weeks they did not. In post-hoc analyses, we found that coveralls and facemasks were worn less consistently when workers experienced worse barn conditions and had more contact with pigs, but coveralls were worn more consistently as cleaning activities increased. CONCLUSIONS Similar to past studies, baseline estimates were likely obscured by healthy worker effect bias, but showed decrements in worker lung function as years of work increased. A challenge to disentangling the effect of work activities on lung function was the discovery that IHO workers used PPE differently according to the work task. These data suggest that interventions may be targeted toward improving barn conditions so that workers can consistently utilize IHO-provided PPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa R. Coffman
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
| | - Devon J. Hall
- Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (REACH) Warsaw North Carolina USA
| | - Nora Pisanic
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Maya Nadimpalli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA
- Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (CIMAR) Tufts University Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Meredith McCormack
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- School of Medicine Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Marie Diener‐West
- Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- School of Nursing Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Meghan F. Davis
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- School of Medicine Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Christopher D. Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland USA
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Coffman VR, Hall DJ, Pisanic N, Nadimpalli M, McCormack M, Diener-West M, Davis MF, Heaney CD. The use of personal protective equipment during common industrial hog operation work activities and acute lung function changes in a prospective worker cohort, North Carolina, USA. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020. [PMID: 33173898 DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.03.20205252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction As occupational activities related to acute industrial hog operation (IHO) worker lung function are not well defined, we aimed to identify IHO work activities associated with diminished respiratory function and the effectiveness, if any, of personal protective equipment (PPE) on IHOs. Methods From 2014-2015, 103 IHO workers were enrolled and followed for 16 weeks. At each bi-weekly visit, lung function measurements were collected via spirometry and work activities and PPE use were self-reported via questionnaire. Generalized linear and linear fixed-effects models were fitted to cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Results At baseline, increasing years worked on an IHO were associated with diminished lung function, but other activities were less consistent in direction and magnitude. In longitudinal models, only reports of working in feeding/finisher barns, showed a consistent association. However, a -0.3 L (95% confidence interval: -0.6, -0.04) difference in FEV 1 was estimated when workers wore PPE consistently versus those weeks they did not. In post-hoc analyses, we found that coveralls and facemasks were worn less consistently when workers experienced worse barn conditions and had more contact with pigs, but coveralls were worn more consistently as cleaning activities increased. Conclusions Similar to past studies, baseline estimates were likely obscured by healthy worker bias. Also making it challenging to disentangle the effect of work activities on lung function was the discovery that IHO workers used PPE differently according to work task. These data suggest that interventions may be targeted toward improving barn conditions so that workers can consistently utilize IHO-provided PPE. KEY MESSAGES What is already known about this subject?: Working on industrial hog operations may be deleterious to long- and short-term respiratory health due to airborne bacteria, endotoxin, hazardous gases, dust, and dander in barns. In efficacy studies PPE has been shown to be protective, but studies have shown that PPE utilization among hog workers has historically been sub-optimal.What are the new findings?: As barn conditions worsened and contact with pigs increased, workers in this cohort reported wearing coveralls and face masks less often; however, they reported increased PPE use as they conducted more cleaning activities at work. During weeks when workers wore PPE their lung function declined, a possible cause being the improper use of the equipment leading to a false sense of protection or re-exposure to hazardous contaminants.How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?: Given COVID-19, the H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic, our knowledge of antimicrobial resistant pathogens, and increasing awareness about how food systems are linked to the spread of emerging infectious diseases, occupational health intervention research and workplace policies may focus on creating barn environments that are more conducive to PPE use which could help protect workers and consequently the community.
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Is atopy a risk indicator of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in dairy farmers? Respir Res 2019; 20:124. [PMID: 31208466 PMCID: PMC6580567 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-019-1082-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Allergic mechanisms related to environmental and occupational exposure have been suggested to contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives To investigate the relationships between atopy markers, persistent airflow limitation (PAL) and occupational exposure in dairy farmers. Methods Clinical and biological (total IgE and 21 allergen specific IgE) markers of atopy were assessed in 101 dairy farmers with PAL (DF-PAL), 85 non-farmers with PAL (NF-PAL) (both groups were prospectively included from a screening program performed between 2011 and 2015), and matched controls, i.e. 98 farmers without PAL (DF-controls) and 89 non-farming subjects without PAL (NF-controls). Occupational exposure in farmers was estimated using a validated questionnaire. Results Prevalence of allergy history was significantly higher in DF-PAL and in NF-PAL than in controls. Polysensitization, and sensitization to seasonal and food allergens were more frequent in DF-PAL than in DF-controls, respectively: 13.8% vs 1% (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 17.5 (2.2–134), 11.9% vs 3.1% (aOR: 4.4 (1.2–7.2) and 16.8% vs 4.1% (aOR: 5.2 (1.7–7.2)). The prevalence of atopy markers was similar between NF-PAL patients and NF-controls. Conclusions PAL in farmers is associated with a high rate of markers of atopy, supporting atopy as a risk indicator. Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02540408). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12931-019-1082-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Agriculture environments contain a variety of inflammatory aerosols that may increase risk for lung inflammation and disease in exposed individuals. In addition, epidemiological studies have also identified protective effects of rural environments and farming exposures. RECENT FINDINGS In this review, we will discuss recent literature published since 2016 that investigates the impact of differing agricultural exposures on respiratory health. Discussions include the impact of farming modernization, education, and personal protective equipment usage among workers, timing and duration in mediating lung health outcomes, and population studies investigating the association between exposure and risk for numerous lung diseases.
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Basinas I, Cronin G, Hogan V, Sigsgaard T, Hayes J, Coggins AM. Exposure to Inhalable Dust, Endotoxin, and Total Volatile Organic Carbons on Dairy Farms Using Manual and Automated Feeding Systems. Ann Work Expo Health 2018; 61:344-355. [PMID: 28355415 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxw023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Agricultural workers tend to have high exposures to organic dusts which may induce or exacerbate respiratory disorders. Studies investigating the effect of work tasks and farm characteristics on organic dust exposures among farm workers suggest that handling of animal feed is an important exposure determinant; however, the effect of the animal feeding system has not been explored in any detail. Objectives To measure the exposure of Irish dairy farmers to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) during parlour work and to explore whether levels of exposure to these agents depend on the applied feeding system in the farms. Methods Thirty-eight personal exposure measurements were collected from farmers across seven dairy farms. The farms used manual, loft, or semi-automated feeding systems. Information on worker tasks and farm characteristics was collected during the surveys. Associations between exposure concentrations and feeding systems, worker tasks, and other farm characteristics were explored in linear mixed-effect regression models with farmer identity treated as a random effect. Results Exposure concentrations were variable and had a geometric mean (GM; geometric standard deviation) of 1.5 mg m-3 (1.8) for inhalable dust and 128 EU m-3 (2.5) for endotoxin. More than 50% of the exposure measurements for endotoxin, and organic dust exceeded recommended health-based occupational exposure limits. Endotoxin levels were somewhat lower in farms using semi-automatic feeding systems when compared to those using manual feeding systems but in multivariate regression analysis associations were not statistically significant (β = -0.54, P = 0.4). Performance of activities related to handling and spreading of hay or straw was the strongest determinant for both inhalable dust and endotoxin exposure (β = 0.78, P ≤ 0.001; β = 0.72, P = 0.02, respectively). The level of dust exposure increased also as a consequence of a lower outdoor temperature, and higher ratio of distributed feed per cow (P = 0.01). Stationary measurements of TVOC and CO2 concentrations inside the dairy parlours had a GM of 180 ppb (1.9) and 589 ppb (1.3), respectively. The use of cow teat disinfectants and building ventilation were both strong predictors of TVOC concentrations within parlours. Conclusions Dairy farm workers can be exposed to high and variable levels of inhalable dust and endotoxin and may be at risk of respiratory disease. Results from this study suggest that exposure control strategies for organic dusts and TVOCs exposures should consider building ventilation and work tasks such as spreading of bedding material, using spray disinfectants and animal feeding. Until effective permanent engineering controls are established farm workers should be encouraged to wear respiratory protective equipment during these tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational medicine, Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
| | - Garvin Cronin
- School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Univeristy Road, Galway H91TK33, Ireland
| | - Victoria Hogan
- School of Health Sciences, National University of Ireland, Univeristy Road, Galway H91TK33, Ireland
| | - Torben Sigsgaard
- Department of Public Health, Section for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, bg 1260, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - James Hayes
- Royal College of Surgeons Ireland Hospital Group, Cavan & Monaghan Hospitals, Cavan, Ireland
| | - Ann Marie Coggins
- School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Univeristy Road, Galway H91TK33, Ireland
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Poole JA, Mikuls TR, Duryee MJ, Warren KJ, Wyatt TA, Nelson AJ, Romberger DJ, West WW, Thiele GM. A role for B cells in organic dust induced lung inflammation. Respir Res 2017; 18:214. [PMID: 29273051 PMCID: PMC5741951 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-017-0703-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Agriculture organic dust exposures induce lung disease with lymphoid aggregates comprised of both T and B cells. The precise role of B cells in mediating lung inflammation is unknown, yet might be relevant given the emerging role of B cells in obstructive pulmonary disease and associated autoimmunity. METHODS Using an established animal model, C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and B-cell receptor (BCR) knock-out (KO) mice were repetitively treated with intranasal inhalation of swine confinement organic dust extract (ODE) daily for 3 weeks and lavage fluid, lung tissues, and serum were collected. RESULTS ODE-induced neutrophil influx in lavage fluid was not reduced in BCR KO animals, but there was reduction in TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL1, and CXCL2 release. ODE-induced lymphoid aggregates failed to develop in BCR KO mice. There was a decrease in ODE-induced lung tissue CD11c+CD11b+ exudative macrophages and compensatory increase in CD8+ T cells in lavage fluid of BCR KO animals. Compared to saline, there was an expansion of conventional B2-, innate B1 (CD19+CD11b+CD5+/-)-, and memory (CD19+CD273+/-CD73+/-) B cells following ODE exposure in WT mice. Autoreactive responses including serum IgG anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) and anti-malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) autoantibodies were increased in ODE treated WT mice as compared to saline control. B cells and serum immunoglobulins were not detected in BCR KO animals. CONCLUSIONS Lung tissue staining for citrullinated and MAA modified proteins were increased in ODE-treated WT animals, but not BCR KO mice. These studies show that agriculture organic dust induced lung inflammation is dependent upon B cells, and dust exposure induces an autoreactive response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill A Poole
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5990, USA.
| | - Ted R Mikuls
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA.,Rheumatology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael J Duryee
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA.,Rheumatology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kristi J Warren
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5990, USA
| | - Todd A Wyatt
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5990, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Amy J Nelson
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5990, USA
| | - Debra J Romberger
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5990, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - William W West
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Thiele
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Research Service, Omaha, NE, USA.,Rheumatology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
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13
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Bernatchez E, Gold MJ, Langlois A, Blais-Lecours P, Boucher M, Duchaine C, Marsolais D, McNagny KM, Blanchet MR. Methanosphaera stadtmanae induces a type IV hypersensitivity response in a mouse model of airway inflammation. Physiol Rep 2017; 5:5/7/e13163. [PMID: 28364028 PMCID: PMC5392504 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite improved awareness of work‐related diseases and preventive measures, many workers are still at high risk of developing occupational hypersensitivity airway diseases. This stems from a lack of knowledge of bioaerosol composition and their potential effects on human health. Recently, archaea species were identified in bioaerosols, raising the possibility that they play a major role in exposure‐related pathology. Specifically, Methanosphaera stadtmanae (MSS) and Methanobrevibacter smithii (MBS) are found in high concentrations in agricultural environments and respiratory exposure to crude extract demonstrates immunomodulatory activity in mice. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the specific impact of methanogens exposure on airway immunity and their potential to induce airway hypersensitivity responses in workers remains scant. Analysis of the lung mucosal response to methanogen crude extracts in mice demonstrated that MSS and MBS predominantly induced TH17 airway inflammation, typical of a type IV hypersensitivity response. Furthermore, the response to MSS was associated with antigen‐specific IgG1 and IgG2a production. However, despite the presence of eosinophils after MSS exposure, only a weak TH2 response and no airway hyperresponsiveness were observed. Finally, using eosinophil and mast cell‐deficient mice, we confirmed that these cells are dispensable for the TH17 response to MSS, although eosinophils likely contribute to the exacerbation of inflammatory processes induced by MSS crude extract exposure. We conclude that, as MSS induces a clear type IV hypersensitivity lung response, it has the potential to be harmful to workers frequently exposed to this methanogen, and that preventive measures should be taken to avoid chronic hypersensitivity disease development in workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Bernatchez
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew J Gold
- The Biomedical Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anick Langlois
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pascale Blais-Lecours
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Magali Boucher
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Marsolais
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kelly M McNagny
- The Biomedical Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marie-Renée Blanchet
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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14
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Fontana L, Lee SJ, Capitanelli I, Re A, Maniscalco M, Mauriello MC, Iavicoli I. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Farmers: A Systematic Review. J Occup Environ Med 2017; 59:775-788. [PMID: 28594705 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000001072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant public health problem but it is unclear whether agricultural work causes an increased risk of disease. The aim of this review was to study COPD risk among farmers and analyze occupational exposures in agricultural workplaces. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted to identify epidemiological studies investigating COPD prevalence in farmers. RESULTS In the 14 studies reviewed, COPD prevalence ranged from 3% to 68% due to different characteristics of study population, working activities, case definition/diagnosis. Livestock farmers were at higher risk and significant associations were observed for exposure to organic dusts, endotoxins, mites, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. CONCLUSIONS Farming work was associated with greater risk of developing COPD. However, considering the several variables that may influence the disease prevalence in farmers, we suggest the adoption of a standardized research strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Fontana
- Section of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome (Dr Fontana, Dr Capitanelli); Department of Community Health Systems, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California (Dr Lee); Unit of Pneumology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Vittorio Veneto, Vittorio Veneto (Dr Re); Laboratory of Respiratory Inflammation, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Telese Terme, Benevento (Dr Maniscalco); Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples (Dr Mauriello, Dr Iavicoli), Italy
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15
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van Doorn D, Richardson N, Osborne A. Farmers Have Hearts: The Prevalence of Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Among a Subgroup of Irish Livestock Farmers. J Agromedicine 2017; 22:264-274. [DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2017.1318728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana van Doorn
- Department of Science and Health, National Centre for Men’s Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Noel Richardson
- Department of Science and Health, National Centre for Men’s Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Aoife Osborne
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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16
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Roux P, Guillien A, Soumagne T, Ritter O, Laplante JJ, Travers C, Dalphin JC, Peiffer G, Laurent L, Degano B. Smoking habits in French farmers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2017; 17:166. [PMID: 28160776 PMCID: PMC5292143 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4030-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Farmers are exposed to multiple air contaminants that may interact with tobacco smoking in the development of respiratory diseases. Farmers are currently considered to smoke less than non-farmers, but precise data in different categories of age and farming activities are lacking. Methods Smoking habits were studied in a cross-sectional study involving 4105 farmers and 996 non-farming controls aged 40–74 years in 9 French departments between October 2012 and May 2013. Three age groups were defined (40–54, 55–64 and 65-74years). Farmers were divided into four activity groups, namely cattle breeders, livestock farmers working in confined spaces, crop farmers and others. Smoking prevalence was compared between farmers and controls, and odds ratios (ORs) for smoking adjusted for age were calculated. Results The adjusted OR for ever-smoking was lower among farmers than among non-farmers in all age categories, but the ORs for current smoking were similar in farmers and controls. Smoking prevalence varied according to the type of farming activity, and was lower than in non-farming controls only among cattle breeders and confined livestock farmers. In farmers, the proportion of smokers was higher in the youngest age categories compared with the older age classes. Conclusions Our results confirm that the prevalence of ever-smokers is lower in farmers than in non-farmers. Nevertheless, our data show that active smoking prevalence is similar in farmers and in non-farmers. This suggests that farmers, just like non-farmers, should be targeted by primary prevention campaigns against smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Roux
- Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire (CHRU), Besançon, France.,Service de Pneumologie, CHRU, Besançon, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jean-Charles Dalphin
- Service de Pneumologie, CHRU, Besançon, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Chrono-Environnement, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | | | - Lucie Laurent
- Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire (CHRU), Besançon, France.,Service de Pneumologie, CHRU, Besançon, France
| | - Bruno Degano
- Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire (CHRU), Besançon, France. .,EA 3920, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France. .,Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, CHU Jean Minjoz, Besançon Cedex, 25030, France.
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Evidence of Allergic Reactions and Cardiopulmonary Impairments among Traders Operating from Foodstuff Warehouses. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2016:1081258. [PMID: 28116288 PMCID: PMC5225322 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1081258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background. Foodstuff traders operating from warehouses (FTFW) are potentially exposed to dangerous rodenticides/pesticides that may have adverse effects on cardiopulmonary function. Methods. Fifty consenting male foodstuff traders, comprising 15 traders (21–63 years) operating outside warehouses and 35 FTFW (20–64 years), were randomly recruited at Ogbete Market, Enugu, in a cross-sectional observational study of spirometric and electrocardiographic parameters. Seventeen FTFW (21–57 years) participated in focus group discussions. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed thematically and with independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient at p < 0.05, respectively. Results. Most FTFW experienced respiratory symptoms, especially dry cough (97.1%) and wheezing (31.4%) with significant reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC) (t = −2.654; p = 0.011), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (t = −2.240; p = 0.030), maximum expiratory flow rate (FEF200–1200) (t = −1.148; p = −0.047), and forced end-expiratory flow (FEF75–85) (t = −1.11; p = 0.007). The maximum mid-expiratory flow (FEF25–75) was marginally decreased (p > 0.05) with a significantly prolonged (p < 0.05) QTc interval. Conclusion. Allergic response was evident in the FTFW. Significant decrease in FVC may negatively impact lung flow rates and explains the marginal decrease in FEF25–75, which implies a relative limitation in airflow of peripheral/distal airways and elastic recoil of the lungs. This is consistent with obstructive pulmonary disease; a significant decrease in FEF75–85/FEV1 supports this conclusion. Significant decrease in FEF200–1200 indicates abnormalities in the large airways/larynx just as significantly prolonged ventricular repolarization suggests cardiac arrhythmias.
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