title: Agricultural exposures and chronic bronchitis: findings from the AGRICAN (AGRIculture and CANcer) cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Livestock farming has been recognized as a risk factor for chronic bronchitis (CB). The role of crop farming, however, has been less studied. We sought to assess the role of a large range of farming activities on the risk of CB in the French agricultural cohort AGRICAN (AGRIculture and CANcer).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on respiratory health and farming activities were collected by questionnaire from 2005 to 2007. Associations between farming activities and self-reported doctor's diagnosis of CB were estimated by a logistic regression adjusted for confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CB was reported by 1207 farmers (8.4%). Two farming activities were associated with CB: cattle raising (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.48), and potato production (OR 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.57). Associations were more pronounced in small-scale cattle raising and in large-scale potato production, in particular among the longest exposed workers (≥20 years). Pesticide poisoning and exposure to pesticides in potato farmers were significantly associated with CB risk (OR 1.64 and OR 1.63, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis suggests that other agricultural settings not previously reported, such as potato production, may be a risk factor for CB. The nature and circumstances of exposure to hazardous agents need to be further explored.
authors.affiliation: University of Caen Basse-Normandie, Cancers et Préventions, IFR ICORE, Caen, France. s.tual@baclesse.fr
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tual
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clin
authors.forename: Noémie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levêque-Morlais
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raherison
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebailly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000383:Agriculture; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000818:Animals; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Agriculture; Animals; Bronchitis; Chronic; Crops; Pesticides