Exposures and health effects from inorganic agricultural dusts.
- 1 August 2000
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Environmental Health Perspectives in Environmental Health Perspectives
- Vol. 108 (suppl 4), 661-664
- https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.00108s4661
Abstract
Most studies of respiratory disease from dust exposure in the agricultural workplace have focused on allergic diseases caused by inorganic dusts, specifically occupational asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Exposures to inorganic (mineral) dusts among farmers and farm workers may be substantial. Such exposures are most frequent in dry-climate farming regions. In such locations farming activities that perturb the soil (e.g., plowing, tilling) commonly result in exposures to farm operators of 1-5 mg/m(3) respirable dust and >= 20 mg/m(3) total dust. The composition of inorganic dust in agriculture generally reflects the soil composition. Crystalline silica may represent up to 20% of particles, and silicates represent up to 80%. These very high concentrations of inorganic dust are likely to explain some of the increase in chronic bronchitis reported in many studies of farmers. Pulmonary fibrosis (mixed dust pneumoconiosis) has been reported in agricultural workers, and dust samples from the lungs in these cases reflect the composition of agricultural soils, strongly suggesting an etiologic role for inorganic agricultural dusts. However, the prevalence and clinical severity of these cases are unknown, and many exposures are to mixed organic and inorganic dusts. Epidemiologic studies of farmers in diverse geographic settings also have observed an increase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease morbidity and mortality. It is plausible that agricultural exposure to inorganic dusts is causally associated with chronic bronchitis, interstitial fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the independent contribution of mineral dusts beyond the effects of organic dusts remains to be determined.Keywords
This publication has 36 references indexed in Scilit:
- Exposure to Dust and its Particle Size Distribution in California AgricultureAihaj Journal, 1998
- Determinants of Personal Dust Exposure During Field Crop Operations in California AgricultureAihaj Journal, 1998
- Exposure to Dust, Noise, and Pesticides, Their Determinants, and the Use of Protective Equipment among California Farm OperatorsApplied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 1996
- Thoracic Radiographic Features of Silicosis in 19 HorsesJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 1991
- Combined Effect of Grain Farming and Smoking on Lung Function and the Prevalence of Chronic BronchitisInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 1991
- Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in chicken catchers in poultry confinement unitsAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1991
- Relation between respiratory symptoms, type of farming, and lung function disorders in farmers.Thorax, 1990
- Work‐related respiratory disorders among finnish farmersAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1990
- Respiratory Disease Mortality in Agricultural Workers in Eight Member Countries of the European CommunityInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 1982