Nasal symptoms and pathophysiology in farmers

Objectives: Increased morbidity and mortality in lower airway diseases have been reported among farmers. The aim of this study was to assess upper air way problems in farmers. Subjects and methods: Twenty-five dairy farmers, 2 0 pig farmers, 21 grain farmers and 19 control subjects were studied, by us e of questionnaire, skin-prick test, dynamic spirometry, nasal inspection, acoustic rhinometry (before and after a decongestant) as well as by determi nations of the olfactory threshold and nasal lavage (NAL) concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and albumin. Resu lts: Compared with the control group, farmers had more complaints of work-r elated symptoms from the lower airways, and symptoms of smell impairment, a nd more often had nasal polyps and hyperaemia of the nasal mucosa. They als o had higher levels of MPO in NAL (especially dairy farmers and pig farmers ), and a tendency to more swollen nasal mucosa and lower olfactory threshol d (especially grain farmers). Conclusions: The farmers had more pathologica l findings in their nasal mucosa, possibly indicating effects of allergens and irritants in their work environment. More studies are needed to evaluat e work environment factors causing these pathological findings in farmers.