Wijnand Eduard1, Neil Pearce2, Jeroen Douwes2. 1. National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: wijnand.eduard@stami.no. 2. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Farmers have an increased risk of respiratory morbidity and mortality. The causal agents have not been fully established. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 4,735 Norwegian farmers, we assessed respiratory symptoms and lung function. Atopy was assessed in a subsample (n = 1,213). Personal exposures to dust, fungal spores, actinomycete spores, endotoxins, bacteria, storage mites, (1-->3)-ss-D-glucans, fungal antigens, organic dust, inorganic dust, silica, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide were measured for 127 randomly selected farms. RESULTS: Compared to crop farmers, livestock farmers were more likely to have chronic bronchitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 2.6) and COPD (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.7). FEV(1) (-41 mL; 95% CI, -75 to -7) was significantly reduced, but FVC (-15 mL; 95% CI, -54 to 24) was not. Exposure to most agents were predictors of respiratory morbidity, except FVC. Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and inorganic dust were most strongly associated in multiple regression models adjusted for coexposures, but the effects of specific biological agents could not be assessed in multiple regression models because they were too highly correlated. Farmers with atopy had a significantly lower FEV(1) (OR, -87 mL; 95% CI, -170 to -7), but atopy was not directly associated with chronic bronchitis, COPD, and FVC. However, the effects of farming and specific exposures on COPD were substantially greater in farmers with atopy. CONCLUSIONS: Livestock farmers have an increased risk of chronic bronchitis, COPD, and reduced FEV(1). Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, inorganic dust, and organic dust may be causally involved, but a role for specific biological agents cannot be excluded. Farmers with atopy appear more susceptible to develop farming-related COPD.
BACKGROUND: Farmers have an increased risk of respiratory morbidity and mortality. The causal agents have not been fully established. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 4,735 Norwegian farmers, we assessed respiratory symptoms and lung function. Atopy was assessed in a subsample (n = 1,213). Personal exposures to dust, fungal spores, actinomycete spores, endotoxins, bacteria, storage mites, (1-->3)-ss-D-glucans, fungal antigens, organic dust, inorganic dust, silica, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide were measured for 127 randomly selected farms. RESULTS: Compared to crop farmers, livestock farmers were more likely to have chronic bronchitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 2.6) and COPD (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.7). FEV(1) (-41 mL; 95% CI, -75 to -7) was significantly reduced, but FVC (-15 mL; 95% CI, -54 to 24) was not. Exposure to most agents were predictors of respiratory morbidity, except FVC. Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and inorganic dust were most strongly associated in multiple regression models adjusted for coexposures, but the effects of specific biological agents could not be assessed in multiple regression models because they were too highly correlated. Farmers with atopy had a significantly lower FEV(1) (OR, -87 mL; 95% CI, -170 to -7), but atopy was not directly associated with chronic bronchitis, COPD, and FVC. However, the effects of farming and specific exposures on COPD were substantially greater in farmers with atopy. CONCLUSIONS: Livestock farmers have an increased risk of chronic bronchitis, COPD, and reduced FEV(1). Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, inorganic dust, and organic dust may be causally involved, but a role for specific biological agents cannot be excluded. Farmers with atopy appear more susceptible to develop farming-related COPD.
Authors: Koteswara R Gottipati; Shiva Kumar Bandari; Matthew W Nonnenmann; Jeffrey L Levin; Gregory P Dooley; Stephen J Reynolds; Vijay Boggaram Journal: Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol Date: 2014-11-14 Impact factor: 5.464
Authors: Jill A Poole; Todd A Wyatt; Tammy Kielian; Peter Oldenburg; Angela M Gleason; Ashley Bauer; Gregory Golden; William W West; Joseph H Sisson; Debra J Romberger Journal: Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol Date: 2011-01-28 Impact factor: 6.914
Authors: Vijay Boggaram; David S Loose; Koteswara R Gottipati; Kartiga Natarajan; Courtney T Mitchell Journal: Physiol Genomics Date: 2016-02-16 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Ioannis Basinas; Torben Sigsgaard; Hans Kromhout; Dick Heederik; Inge M Wouters; Vivi Schlünssen Journal: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol Date: 2013-11-27 Impact factor: 5.563
Authors: John D Dickinson; Jenea M Sweeter; Elizabeth B Staab; Amy J Nelson; Kristina L Bailey; Kristi J Warren; Ana Maria Jaramillo; Burton F Dickey; Jill A Poole Journal: Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol Date: 2018-10-25 Impact factor: 5.464