Hanyang Med Rev.  2010 Nov;30(4):305-312.

The Occupational Diseases of Agricultural Workers

• Lee SJ

Abstract

Agriculture in every industrialized country is one of the most hazardous occupations, based on occupational fatality rates, nonfatal occupational injury rates, and occupational illness rates. The fatality rate and nonfatal injury rate for agricultural workers are twice to five times higher than all occupations. Low back pain and osteoarthritis of the hip and knee are the most important occupational illness of occupational workers. these conditions are worsened by poor ergonomic working conditions, long working days, and heavy work loads. Respiratory illnesses are common problems among the agricultural work force. The most frequent cause of respiratory illness is organic dust from livestock production and handling grain or hay that may produce bronchitis, asthma-like condition, irritation of the mucosa of the upper airways and eyes, and organic dust toxic syndrome. Skin conditions may be one of the most frequently reported type of agricultural illness. The most common category of skin condition is contact dermatitis, which may occur as irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. Sunburn and miliarial rubra by Sun and heat exposure are the second most common causes of skin conditions. Overall cancer seems to be lower. However, there are several cancers for which the farming population may be at increased risk, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, brain, prostate, and skin. The issue of pesticide exposure is often a dominant concern among the farming population and also noise-induced hearing loss, vibration-related injuries including Raynaud's phenomenon, and zoonotic infectious diseases.

Keyword

Occupational Disease; Agricultural Worker; Farmer; Pesticide

MeSH Terms

Brain
Bronchitis
Communicable Diseases
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact
Dermatitis, Contact
Developed Countries
Dust
Eye
Handling (Psychology)
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced
Hip
Hot Temperature
Knee
Leukemia
Livestock
Low Back Pain
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Mucous Membrane
Multiple Myeloma
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Injuries
Occupations
Osteoarthritis
Prostate
Skin
Solar System
Sunburn
Edible Grain
Farmers
Dust

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