Table 2 Farming exposure prevalences and mutually adjusted ORs for farmer's lung among farmers in the Agricultural Health Study, 1993–7.
| Exposure | Farmer's lung (n = 427) | Controls (n = 17 952) | OR* (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Hay and grain group† | |||
| Grind feed | 265 (62) | 8465 (47) | 1.15 (0.88 to 1.51) |
| Grow grain | 411 (96) | 15 541 (87) | 1.04 (0.61 to 1.79) |
| Handle grain | 379 (89) | 13 028 (73) | 1.13 (0.80 to 1.60) |
| Handle hay | 295 (69) | 10 506 (59) | 1.09 (0.83 to 1.42) |
| Handle silage | 148 (35) | 3768 (21) | 1.41 (1.10 to 1.82) |
| Animal group† | |||
| Beef cattle | 208 (49) | 6988 (39) | 1.02 (0.79 to 1.31) |
| Dairy cattle | 38 (9) | 1018 (6) | 1.28 (0.86 to 1.89) |
| Hogs | 171 (40) | 6285 (35) | 0.85 (0.64 to 1.14) |
| Poultry houses | 16 (4) | 606 (3) | 1.55 (0.93 to 2.58) |
| Swine areas | 148 (35) | 5281 (29) | 0.93 (0.69 to 1.24) |
| Veterinary procedures | 207 (49) | 7245 (40) | 0.95 (0.75 to 1.20) |
| Other exposures† | |||
| Diesel tractors | 416 (97) | 16 653 (93) | 1.17 (0.65 to 2.11) |
| Drive combines | 391 (92) | 14 450 (81) | 1.06 (0.73 to 1.55) |
| Grind metal | 335 (79) | 12 435 (69) | 0.99 (0.75 to 1.31) |
| Solvents to clean | 248 (58) | 9063 (51) | 1.08 (0.88 to 1.34) |
| Welding | 330 (77) | 11 679 (65) | 1.19 (0.91 to 1.56) |
| Pesticide group‡ | |||
| High pesticide exposure event | 114 (27) | 2617 (15) | 1.75 (1.39 to 2.21) |
| Carbamate pesticides | 320 (75) | 12 656 (71) | 1.32 (1.03 to 1.68) |
| Organochlorine insecticides | 313 (73) | 10 623 (59) | 1.34 (1.04 to 1.74) |
| Organophosphate insecticides | 411 (96) | 16 566 (92) | 1.03 (0.62 to 1.70) |
| Permethrin insecticides | 126 (30) | 4216 (24) | 1.12 (0.89 to 1.41) |
| Phenoxy herbicides | 392 (92) | 14 502 (81) | 1.18 (0.81 to 1.70) |
| Triazine herbicides | 395 (93) | 14 396 (80) | 1.19 (0.81 to 1.74) |
*ORs adjusted for age, state, smoking status and cigarettes per day and all other exposures.
†Grain, animal and other farm exposures are based on current activities.
‡Pesticide group variables are based on lifetime exposure.