Does Farming Have an Effect on Health Status? A Comparison Study in West Greece

Abstract

Investigating the health status of agricultural workers is a challenging goal. Contradictory outcomes concerning farmers’ health are reported in the literature. In this cross-sectional study, certain clinical and neurobehavioral health outcomes were compared between farmers and non-farmers living in the same rural area. Farmers (328) and non-farmers (347), matched per age and sex, were selected randomly in an agricultural area in West Greece. Both groups underwent haematological and biochemical examinations and were administered two neurobehavioral tests, namely the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Sociodemographic, personal medical, nutritional and lifestyle data were recorded. According to personal statements, farmers suffered from hypertension, cardiovascular, orthopaedic and ENT problems in higher frequency. Haematocrit, haemoglobin and serum cholinesterase’s activity were found to be lower among farmers. Lower prevalence of hypertension and better performances on MMSE and MADRS tests were recorded in young farmers in relation to young non-farmers, while these findings were reversed in older ages. Odds Ratios were calculated through multivariate logistic regression models. Factors affecting these impairments remain to be clarified.

Association of Long-Term Pesticide Exposure and Biologic Parameters in Female Farm Workers in Tanzania: A Cross Sectional Study

“…The decrease in hematocrit and MCV observed in the exposed group compared to the reference group might be explained by dehydration [ 36 ]. However, because erythrocyte deformability has been found when blood samples from healthy persons were exposed to acetylcholine in vitro, it is likely that chemicals such as pesticides with the potential to affect acetylcholine signaling may induce changes in erythrocyte size/volume [ 37 ].…”

“…Routine blood tests are part of a full clinical examination and are interpreted in conjunction with clinical symptoms for diagnosis of disease. Previous studies have reported associations between long-term, low-level exposure to pesticides and changes in biochemical and hematological parameters [ 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. In these studies, exposed farm workers, including sprayers, were found to have lower mean hemoglobin levels, hematocrit concentrations and mean cell volumes, as well as higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations (MCHC) and platelet volumes.…”

Prevalence and Determinants of Sinus Problems in Farm and Non-Farm Populations of Rural Saskatchewan, Canada

“…It has been reported that breeding and handling of livestock, dairy production, swine barn exposures, and grain farming increased nasal inflammation and symptoms [3,7]. Exposure to pesticides has also been associated with many respiratory symptoms including sinus problems [3,9]. On the other hand, several studies have identified some of the exposures associated with a farming lifestyle that contributed to the reduced risk of rhinitis, asthma, and allergic diseases in farm children (i.e., contact with livestock; contact with animal feed such as hay, grain, straw, and silage; and the consumption of unprocessed cow's milk) [1,4,5,[10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

Chemical Biomarker Study of Negative Physiological Effects of Insecticides on Pakistani Farm Workers Health in the Central Punjab

“…49 Similarly the elevated levels of ALT in more exposed population in our study endorse the previously reported similar findings. 55 Elevated levels of vital biochemical indicators, such as urea, ALT, serum creatinine, and AST and the depressed values of serum albumin, total proteins, and BChE levels (Table 5) in smokers (comprising of major proportion of the studied population; 84% of farmers). These findings are also confirmed by already reported assumptions.…”