Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers

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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Introduction Linko (1947) published a case
of farmers lung first study at the end of
1970', farmers exposure to microbes in
Kuopio Regional Institute of Occupational
Health since the year 1980 several studies
have been published concerning chemical,
physical and biological agents in different
types of environments in agriculture
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Cocktail Possible connections of exposures and
diseases
Exposures
Diseases
Inhalable dust Molds Endotoxins Allergens Bacteria
Welding fumes (Zn) Pesticides Cleaning/desincfec
tion Working postures Lighting Noise Vibration
Chronic bronchitis Farmers lung ODTS (grain
fever) Asthma Rhinitis Metal fever Poisoning Skin
symptoms Musculoskeletal symptoms Accidents Heari
ng loss Comfort
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N
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Occupational diseases among farmers in 2002
(Farmers Insurance Institution)
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Why to measure occupational factors ? -
occupational diseases are common among farmers in
Finland so it is important to decrease he
number - Number of accidents are numerous and
also fatal injuries occur - Through research we
can find solutions to control methods
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Microbes, molds, bacteria Exposure at cow farms
at 70s and 80s quite high during 90s
decreasing and still going downward
Analysis - mold specific cultivating petri
dishes - total number with filter sampling and
staining result knowledge (?) of hazardous
species, means for mold control (hay dryers,
chemical treatment of hay, grain, etc) Exposure
at swine farms usually higher than cow farms
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Total dust Inorganic during outdoor work high
concentrations during tilling, sowing,
harvesting Organic dust indoors cow farms
(next slide) swines usually higher than in
cow farms poultry at the same level as in
swine houses
OEL organic dust 5 mg/m3, inorganic 10 mg/m3
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Dust exposure at cow farms
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Gases mainly ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen
sulfide have been measured most often
cow farms have been measured results cow (next
slide) swines high NH3 concentrations,
moderate CO2 poultry floor units high NH3
concentrations, H2S very rare gas in cow
houses, seldom in deep bed swineries, but has
cause fatalities during liquid manure handling
OEL Ammonia 20 ppm, Carbon Dioxide 5000 ppm,
Hydrogen Sulfide 10 ppm
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
The mean concentrations of CO2 and NH3 in cow
houses
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Pesticides - Average farmers exposure to
pesticides is quite low in Finland small
amounts of pesticides are used, 1-2 days / summer
effective low-portion liquids farmers are
afraid of poisons - More exposure to potato,
sugar beet, carrot farmers, tens of days in
summer, typical types are herbicides,
insecticides - Biomonitoring blood or urine
farmers are involved quite seldom - Testing of
sprayers and the test of farmer every 5 years,
every 10 years for extremely dangerous pesticides
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Noise
1980 1990 2003 med
range med range med range cow 72
66-85 80 70-88 76 70-82 swine
88 77-92 poultry 81 77-88
OEL 85 dB(A), animal buildings 65 dB
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Noise levels in cow houses
Work Median (dB(A)) range
(dB(A)) Milking 75
(72-77) Milking and pressure cleaning 80
(80-81) Feeding, drying 77
(73-79) Use of tractor or loader 85
(78-90)
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Vibration - Tractor and harvester work was
analysed at the beginning of 1980 - harrowing
the worst, harvesting not - Tractors were
measured in harrowing work in 1993. Farmers
exposure to vibration was high and the daily
8-hour "fatigue-decreased proficiency boundary"
(ISO 2631/1) was exceeded in all tractors
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Ventilation of buildings - Ventilation has an
effect to gases, temperature, moisture - Indoor
work during wintertime problematic to the
animals, structures and farmers - ventilation
is difficult to design , construction is easier
but the farmers try to buy and build cheap
solutions and then problems rise
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Fatal Injuries
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Fatal Injuries
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
Accidents
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Occupational Exposure of Finnish farmers
What all this means ? The occupational
exposure of Finnish farmers - is quite well
documentated - had decreased a lot in some
cases, in same not so much - could be much
better, if control methods had been
implemented more properly