Bradley
K. Rein
United States Department of Agriculture
Perhaps
more than any other occupational group, agricultural workers
are exposed to a tremendous variety of environmental hazards
that are potentially harmful to their health and well-being.
Farmers and farm workers suffer from increased rates of respiratory
diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin disorders, certain
cancers, chemical toxicity, and heat-related illnesses. There
are precautions that can be taken to minimize or eliminate
these potential hazards.
Farming
situations present several respiratory hazards to farm workers.
Exposure to these hazards has been linked to excessive coughing
and congestion in 20 to 90 percent of farm workers and families.
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis were observed in as many as 50
percent of swine confinement workers and grain handlers.
Organic
Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS) is a common respiratory illness
manifested by temporary influenza-like illness with fever,
headache, and muscle aches and pains. Although much less common
than ODTS, Farmer's Lung is an allergic reaction caused by
inhaling dust from moldy hay, straw, and grain. Dairy and
grain farmers are the most common victims. The months when
moldy crops are handled indoors are the most dangerous. For
those who are susceptible, repeated exposure damages lung
tissue, ca sing shortness of breath and a growing inability
to perform strenuous work. Victims eventually may find it
a struggle even to get out of a chair.
Dust
from moldy hay, grain, and silage can also cause ODTS, which
has symptoms resembling Farmer's Lung. However, ODTS does
not produce long-term illness or cause permanent lung damage.
Nuisance
dusts and gases also are hazards. Suspended dust particles
not containing spores from moldy organic matter are considered
nuisance dusts. Repeated exposure can turn portions of the
lung into hardened, nonfunctioning tissue and cause chronic
bronchitis and occupational asthma.
A variety
of disabling gases, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3),
Carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4),
are produced during many routine operations. Exposure to low
levels of NO2, H2S, or NH3
will produce lung and eye irritations, dizziness, drowsiness,
and headaches. High levels of H2S, particularly,
and NO2, secondarily, will quickly render a worker
unconscious and death will follow.
The
best prevention of respiratory disease is to wear a respirator
approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH). Air-purifying respirators remove contaminants
from the air, but can only be used in environments with enough
oxygen to sustain life. Supplied-air respirators must be used
in oxygen-limited environments, or in environments with acute
toxic gas levels.
Agricultural
noise is another common health hazard on the farm. It is estimated
that 10 percent of U.S. farm workers are exposed to average
daily noise levels above 85 decibels, which is the "action"
level at which hearing conservation program are required for
industrial workers. Studies at the Universities of Missouri,
Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Iowa found that noise-induced hearing
loss has been found to affect a quarter of younger farmers,
and at least 50 percent of older farmers. Significant numbers
develop a communication handicap by age 30.
Prolonged
exposure to excessive noise, such as that produced by tractors,
combines, choppers, grain dryers, and chainsaws, can cause
permanent hearing loss unless noise-control measures are taken.
Ears provide two warning signs for overexposure: temporary
threshold shift (TTF) and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
The two types of hearing protection available are ear muffs
and ear plugs. Ear muffs are more effective, but the level
of protection varies due to differences in size, shape, seal
material, shell mass, and type of suspension. Ear plugs may
be custom fined or preformed rubber, plastic, or foam inserts.
Preformed inserts are cheaper, but ear plugs properly inserted
into the ear and custom-fitted by trained personnel are more
effective because the ear canal shape may vary.
If you
are continually exposed to loud noises, you should have periodic
hearing tests. This test, called an audiogram, will reveal
signs of hearing loss. If a hearing loss is noted, take steps
to reduce exposure, thereby eliminating further damage to
your ears.
Contact
dermatitis is a skin disorder that occurs among agricultural
workers. There are two general categories: irritant and allergic.
Irritants act directly on the skin at the place of contact.
Allergic sensitizers, however, cause changes in the immune system
so that subsequent contact produces a reaction. Phototoxic or
photoallergic reactions occur when light, in combination with
certain substances, causes skin disease. Other types of agricultural
dermatitis include heat rash, origin infections, and insect
and plant irritants.
A number
of factors predispose an individual to dermatitis, such as
age, sex, race, temperature and humidity, previous skin disorders,
skin damage, and personal hygiene. Work-related skin diseases
are often easy to detect, but difficult to diagnose. It is
important for the physician to know chemicals and other agents
to which an individual has been exposed. Wearing proper protective
clothing, and washing frequently are the most effective means
of prevention.
Skin
cancer is a concern on the farm due to the long hours farmers
spend in the sun. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer,
with about 450,000 newly diagnosed cases in America each year.
People at high risk include those with fair skin, blue eyes,
and red or blond hair. Ninety percent of all skin cancers occur
on parts of the body not usually covered by clothing. A place
of particular concern for farmers is the back of the neck. Avoid
overexposure, especially between 11 am. and 2 p.m.; use sunblocks
that absorb or deflect ultraviolet rays; wear protective clothing,
such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats; and
conduct regular self-examinations for early detection.
There
are three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma,
squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Basal cell
carcinoma is the most common form. It rarely spreads, but
if left untreated, can spread to underlying tissues and destroy
them. It usually occurs as a small, shiny, pearly nodule that
may ulcerate and crust. Squamous cell carcinoma, although
rarely life- threatening, is more dangerous than basal cell
carcinoma because it spreads more rapidly. It may begin as
a nodule or as a red, scaly, sharply outlined patch. Malignant
melanoma is the least common, but most deadly, type of skin
cancer. It starts as a small, mole-like growth that increases
in size and forms irregular borders. It may change color,
ulcerate, or bleed from a slight injury. Melanoma is completely
curable in its early stages, but if left untreated, spreads
rapidly through the lymph system
Studies
at the University of Iowa show that leukemia and lymphoma
occur almost 25 percent more frequently in Iowa farmers than
in the general population. Agricultural causes of these concerns
have not been conclusively identified, but agents of concern
include nitrate, pesticides, viruses, antigenic stimulants,
and various fuels, oils, and solvents.
Many
agricultural workers are exposed to chemicals on a daily basis.
If they do not observe proper precautions, illness or even death
may ensue. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that
there are close to 10,000 poisonings each year in America. Only
about 28 percent of these occur on the job. The majority are
the result of home-related poisonings.
Pesticides
can enter the body through many routes, but the most common
ways are through the skin and by inhaling. To prevent dermal
(skin) contact and inhalation of pesticides, applicators should
wear personal protective clothing and equipment.
When
using diluted pesticides, the applicator should wear chemical-resistant
coveralls or an apron. When handling concentrates during mixing
and loading, a face shield, unlined rubber gloves and boots,
and a lightweight rubber apron should be worn. Boots and aprons
should be washed daily with soap and water and dried thoroughly,
inside and out, to remove pesticide residues. All clothing
worn while handling pesticides should be washed daily, separately
from other clothing.
Wear
a NIOSH-approved respirator when the chemical label calls
for it, and be sure to choose the type that protects specifically
against the pesticide you are using. Respirators must fit
the face well to ensure a good seal. Long sideburns, beards,
or glasses may prevent a good seal
Heat
stress occurs when the body builds up more heat than it can
handle. High temperatures, high humidity, sunlight, and heavy
workloads increase the likelihood of heat stress. Use fans,
ventilation systems, and shade whenever possible. A work area
sometimes can be shaded by a tarp or canopy. Drink plenty of
water before, during, and after work, and consider wearing cooling
vests, which are garments with ice or frozen gel inserts.
Allow
time to adjust to the heat and workload. People who are used
to working in the heat are less likely to suffer heat stress.
To become adjusted, do about 2 hours of light work per day
in the heat for several days in a row; then, gradually increase
the work period and workload for the next several days. An
adjustment period of at least 7 days is recommended. If the
warm weather occurs gradually, workers may adjust naturally.
Good
health has long been acknowledged as one of the most critical
elements to quality of life. The health of farm workers is
a vital resource to protect. Following recommended precautionary
measures to protect your health can go a long way to enhancing
your quality of life.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
document is
000102014
,
a Farm Safety Fact Sheet, United States Department of Agriculture
Extension Service. Publication date: June 1992.
Bradley
K. Rein, National Program Leader, Agri-Industry Systems/Farm
Safety, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington,
DC, 20250-2260.
Mention
or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in
text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply approval
to the exclusion of other products or firms.
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