Organic dust-related respiratory and eye irritation in Norwegian farmers

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Abstract
Background Information on exposure to organic dust and work‐related symptoms in farmers is sparse. Methods An exposure study was nested in a survey of 8,482 farmers and spouses. Task‐related respiratory and eye symptoms were recorded by questionnaire. Personal exposure to total dust, fungal spores, bacteria, endotoxins, and ammonia during 12 different tasks was measured in a random sample of 127 farms (288 measurements). Results The prevalence of work‐related symptoms occurring “often’ was 31% and “seldom’ 35%. Specific tasks provoking symptoms were reported by 5–55% of the farmers. Task mean exposures ranged from 0.04 to 2 mg dust/m3, 0.02 × 106 to 2 × 106 fungal spores/m3, 0.2 × 106 to 48 × 106 bacteria/m3, 0.5 × 103 to 28 × 103 endotoxin units/m3, and 0 to 8 ppm ammonia. Task mean exposure levels were positively correlated with task‐specific symptom prevalences for total dust, fungal spores, and endotoxins but not for bacteria and ammonia. Conclusions Work‐related symptoms are common in farmers and are associated with exposure to total dust, fungal spores, and endotoxins. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:209–217, 2001.