Prevalence of serum precipitins against microbes in mouldy hay, and of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung with respect to farmers' occupational health hazards.
During the farmers' occupational health study 1979-82, the work conditions of 3,358 randomly selected farmers were investigated with respect to occurrence of work-related health hazards. The farmers also underwent a health examination in their local health centre, and precipitating antibodies against four microbes present in mouldy hay were analyzed. Results of the precipitin tests and the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung were analyzed with respect to the occurrence of work-related exposures to biological agents and dust in farming. The prevalence of antibodies against Aspergillus umbrosus was largest (6.9%) among farmers with biological health hazards. The occurrence of antibodies against any of the four microbes was associated more with work-related biological agents than with dust exposures. Chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung were also more common among farmers with exposures to biological agents and dust than among those without such exposures. The work conditions were investigated independently of the results of the health examinations. Occurrence of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung are associated with the work-related health hazards in farming. For proper delivery of occupational health services methods of investigating work-related health hazards need to be improved.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000276:immunology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005203:Farmer's Lung / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008848:Micromonosporaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011234:Precipitins / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D011234:Precipitins