Pesticide Use, Allergic Rhinitis, and Asthma Among US Farm Operators

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alarcon, Walter ; Henneberger, Paul K. ; Mazurek JM ; Patel O ; Syamlal G
• Description:
  Objective: The objective of the study is to examine associations between use of specific pesticides and lifetime allergic rhinitis and current asthma in US primary farm operators. Methods: The 2011 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey data from 11,210 primary farm operators were analyzed. Pesticide use on the farm was determined using an affirmative response to the question of whether the operator ever mixed, loaded, or applied pesticides on their farm in the 12 months prior to the interview. Operators who answered "yes" were further asked about the specific trade name and formulation identifiers of the product they used and personal protective equipment (PPE) used. Data were weighted to produce national estimates. Adjusted prevalence odds ratios (PORs) were calculated using logistic regression. The referent group included operators who did not use any pesticides in the 12 months prior to the interview. Results: Of an estimated 2.1 million farm operators, 40.0% used pesticides, 30.8% had lifetime allergic rhinitis, and 5.1% had current asthma. Insecticide and herbicide use were significantly associated with lifetime allergic rhinitis and current asthma. The use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (POR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.9) and carbaryl (POR = 2.3; 1.4-3.7) was significantly associated with lifetime allergic rhinitis. Of operators using pesticides, 64.9% used PPE the last time they mixed, loaded, or applied pesticides. Conclusions: Pesticide use was associated with lifetime allergic rhinitis and current asthma among farm operators. Further studies are needed to clarify the dose-response relationship between pesticide use and adverse respiratory health effects. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Asthma Asthma, Occupational Farmers Hypersensitivity Insecticides Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Allergic Reactions Allergic Rhinitis Allergies Author Keywords: Agriculture Farm Workers Occupational Exposure Pesticides Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals Surveillance
• ISSN:
  1059-924X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  327-335
• Volume:
  23
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052896
• Citation:
  J Agromedicine 2018 Sep; 23(4):327-335
• Contact Point Address:
  Jacek M. Mazurek, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CDC 1095 Willowdale Road MS HG 908, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  JMazurek1@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agromedicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3c46c71b120c61fb3fd911fc481315461421d026c6f8262d06039b4fbd53fa6927d6a141d9a6ca7f779abdc56384eb786f26fef9da9069dd0a57f34224e2a1c2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215802/cdc_215802_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1018.94 KB ]