Excess longitudinal decline in lung function in grain farmers.
Workers in intensive agricultural operations are exposed to dust and endotoxin that are associated with respiratory effects. The authors investigated the longitudinal changes in lung function in male grain farmers. In this study, male grain farmers (n = 263) and male nonfarming control subjects (n = 261) studies initially in 1990/91 were followed-up in 1994/95 and 2003/04. After controlling for potential confounders, grain farmers had an excess annual decline of 9.2 ml/year (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7, 15.8, p = .006) in forced vital capacity (FVC) in comparison to control. Long-term exposure to grain dust and other substances in lifetime grain farmers results in progressive loss in lung function.
Senthilselvan
Ambikaipakan
A
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada. sentil@ualberta.ca
Chénard
Liliane
L
Grover
Vaneeta
V
Kirychuk
Shelley P
SP
Hagel
Louise
L
Ulmer
Kendra
K
Hurst
Thomas S
TS
Dosman
James A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004391:Dust; D002523:Edible Grain; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust