Lung health in Alberta farmers

SETTING: A Study conducted in the rural areas of two counties in east-centr al Alberta, Canada. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between lung health and dust exp osure in farmers. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 781 farmers growing grain crops and rais ing livestock. Measurements included a questionnaire on respiratory symptom s, smoking habits and occupation, skin prick tests using common aeroallerge ns, and spirometry. RESULTS: Immediate skin reactivity to common aeroallergens was less prevale nt in farmers with higher reported intensity of dust exposure. Respiratory symptoms suggestive of bronchitis had a significant dose-response relations hip with the reported intensity of dust exposure. Respiratory symptoms cons istent with bronchial responsiveness were significantly positively associat ed with cumulative dust exposure. There was a significant positive associat ion between a physician's diagnosis of bronchitis and intensity of dust exp osure. FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly negatively associated with cumu lative dust exposure. Ten years of exposure to a moderate dust level was as sociated with a deficit of 43 mi in the FEV1 and a deficit of 0.44% in the FEV1/FVC. CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence of worker selection related to dust exposure, these farmers experienced respiratory symptoms, respiratory conditions, an d reduced lung function associated with reported occupational dust exposure .