Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1990 Dec;45(12):919–923. doi: 10.1136/thx.45.12.919

Relation between respiratory symptoms, type of farming, and lung function disorders in farmers.

M Iversen 1, B Pedersen 1
PMCID: PMC462838  PMID: 2281423

Abstract

Respiratory symptoms and function were examined in a random sample of 181 farmers (124 pig farmers and 57 dairy farmers) with a mean age of 43 years. Wheezing and shortness of breath during work in the animal house were significantly associated with pig farming (odds ratio 11.4), current smoking (odds ratio 2.2), bronchial hyperreactivity (odds ratio 3.8), and low FEV1 (odds ratio 3.4). Pig farmers had a slightly lower FEV1 than dairy farmers (101% versus 104% predicted, NS). Symptomatic farmers had significantly lower FEV1 than symptomless farmers (93% versus 106% predicted). A multiple linear regression analysis of the cross sectional values of FEV1 showed that there was a decline in FEV1 associated with pig farming (-12 ml/year of pig farming) and smoking (-23 ml/pack year) in addition to the age related decline of 32 ml/year. A multiple linear regression analysis of PC20 histamine showed that bronchial reactivity increased with age, number of pack years, and number of years in pig farming. Work in closed pig rearing units is a pulmonary health hazard and causes decline in lung function.

Full text

PDF
919

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burney P. G., Britton J. R., Chinn S., Tattersfield A. E., Papacosta A. O., Kelson M. C., Anderson F., Corfield D. R. Descriptive epidemiology of bronchial reactivity in an adult population: results from a community study. Thorax. 1987 Jan;42(1):38–44. doi: 10.1136/thx.42.1.38. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cockcroft D. W., Killian D. N., Mellon J. J., Hargreave F. E. Bronchial reactivity to inhaled histamine: a method and clinical survey. Clin Allergy. 1977 May;7(3):235–243. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1977.tb01448.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Donham K. J., Haglind P., Peterson Y., Rylander R. Environmental and health studies in swine confinement buildings. Am J Ind Med. 1986;10(3):289–293. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700100317. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Donham K. J., Zavala D. C., Merchant J. A. Respiratory symptoms and lung function among workers in swine confinement buildings: a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Arch Environ Health. 1984 Mar-Apr;39(2):96–101. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1984.10545842. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Donham K. J., Zavala D. C., Merchant J. Acute effects of the work environment on pulmonary functions of swine confinement workers. Am J Ind Med. 1984;5(5):367–375. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700050505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dopico G. A., Reddan W., Tsiatis A., Peters M. E., Rankin J. Epidemiologic study of clinical and physiologic parameters in grain handlers of northern United States. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984 Nov;130(5):759–765. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1984.130.5.759. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dosman J. A., Graham B. L., Hall D., Van Loon P., Bhasin P., Froh F. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in farmers. J Occup Med. 1987 Jan;29(1):38–43. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Enarson D. A., Vedal S., Chan-Yeung M. Rapid decline in FEV1 in grain handlers. Relation to level of dust exposure. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Oct;132(4):814–817. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1985.132.4.814. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Enarson D. A., Vedal S., Schulzer M., Dybuncio A., Chan-Yeung M. Asthma, asthmalike symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and the degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in epidemiologic surveys. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987 Sep;136(3):613–617. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm/136.3.613. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Haglind P., Rylander R. Occupational exposure and lung function measurements among workers in swine confinement buildings. J Occup Med. 1987 Nov;29(11):904–907. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Heller R. F., Hayward D. M., Farebrother M. T. Lung function of farmers in England and Wales. Thorax. 1986 Feb;41(2):117–121. doi: 10.1136/thx.41.2.117. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Holness D. L., O'Blenis E. L., Sass-Kortsak A., Pilger C., Nethercott J. R. Respiratory effects and dust exposures in hog confinement farming. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(5):571–580. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110509. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Husman K., Koskenvuo M., Kaprio J., Terho E. O., Vohlonen I. Role of environment in the development of chronic bronchitis. Eur J Respir Dis Suppl. 1987;152:57–63. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Iversen M., Dahl R., Jensen E. J., Korsgaard J., Hallas T. Lung function and bronchial reactivity in farmers. Thorax. 1989 Aug;44(8):645–649. doi: 10.1136/thx.44.8.645. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Iversen M., Dahl R., Korsgaard J., Hallas T., Jensen E. J. Respiratory symptoms in Danish farmers: an epidemiological study of risk factors. Thorax. 1988 Nov;43(11):872–877. doi: 10.1136/thx.43.11.872. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kauffmann F., Drouet D., Lellouch J., Brille D. Occupational exposure and 12-year spirometric changes among Paris area workers. Br J Ind Med. 1982 Aug;39(3):221–232. doi: 10.1136/oem.39.3.221. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. MANTEL N., HAENSZEL W. Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1959 Apr;22(4):719–748. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Miller M. R., Pincock A. C. Predicted values: how should we use them? Thorax. 1988 Apr;43(4):265–267. doi: 10.1136/thx.43.4.265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Rijcken B., Schouten J. P., Weiss S. T., Speizer F. E., van der Lende R. The relationship of nonspecific bronchial responsiveness to respiratory symptoms in a random population sample. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987 Jul;136(1):62–68. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm/136.1.62. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Saia B., Mastrangelo G., Marcer G., Reggio O. Prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory disease in a farming population. Med Lav. 1984 Mar-Apr;75(2):101–109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Woolcock A. J., Peat J. K., Salome C. M., Yan K., Anderson S. D., Schoeffel R. E., McCowage G., Killalea T. Prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma in a rural adult population. Thorax. 1987 May;42(5):361–368. doi: 10.1136/thx.42.5.361. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. doPico G. A., Reddan W., Anderson S., Flaherty D., Smalley E. Acute effects of grain dust exposure during a work shift. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Sep;128(3):399–404. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.128.3.399. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES