The Prevalence of Self-Reported Respiratory Symptoms and Related Diseases in Different Agricultural Sectors: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Survey in Finland.

Abstract

W ith dairy and crop farming being the largest sectors, agriculture and horticulture provide employment approximately for 100,000 people in Finland. Agriculture workers have a high risk for exposure to respiratory hazards. Because only a small portion of the overall population is employed in agriculture, respiratory disease in farmers is not a major public health issue. Despite this, the health and well-being of farmers as well as their health risk reduction in their working conditions needs to be examined, especially because a farming environment has been thought to prevent the development of allergies. Respiratory diseases and symptoms are well-recognized occupational problems among farmers. Agricultural workers in all sectors of farming are exposed to various types of airborne toxins and allergens in their work, including organic dust, pesticides, and microbes. Several different types of gases (eg, ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide) may also be present in their working environments. Inhalation of biological dusts, which are composed of organic material from straw, hay, animals, and microbes, can cause changes in pulmonary function, induce antibody formation and lead to the development of respiratory disease. Several studies have indicated a