SYNOPSIS ON DETERMINATION OF RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AMONG FIELD AND POULTRY WORKERS

• Farming is currently ranked as one of the top THREE most hazardous occupations, along with construction and mining activities.

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The farmers are exposed to variety of environmental

hazards- potentially harmful to health & well-being;

especially affecting heart and lungs.

Lung disease is the the most common occupational health problem.

The disease is caused by the inhalation of various substances like:

ChemicalsDustFumes, and Gases and other particulate matter that are present

in certain setting.

• Organic dusts & toxic gases constitute some of:

Most common & potentially disabling hazards.

They can affect all parts ofrespiratory system- nose to deepestparts of lungs- causing increasedrates of respiratory diseases.

At times when moldy crops are handled indoors they may lead to more dangerous conditions

Agricultural activities may cause the hazardscausing respiratory problems. Observations show excessive coughing &

congestion in 20 - 90 % of farm workers &families.

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis - in as manyas 50% of swine confinement workers & grainhandlers.

Chronic (long term) diseases like bronchitisand emphysema develop due to repeatedirritation.

EXPOSURE TO HAZARDS IN AGRICULTURE

Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS):common respiratory illness (short term) that resembles Farmer’s Lung- is often mistaken for the flu.

Farmer's Lung: (less common than ODTS):An allergic reaction caused by inhaling dust from moldy hay, straw, and grain. Dairy and grain farmers are the most common victims. Farmer’s Lung can be acute and develop to a chronic condition.

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Shortness of breath.

A dry irritating cough.

A sudden general feeling of sickness.

Fever and chills.

A rapid heart rate, and

Rapid breathing.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES

In addition to theinhalational exposure tothe organic dustsresponsible for thehypersensitivity reaction infarmer's lung disease,allergens, chemicals, toxicgases, and infectious agentsmust also be considered aspotential triggers of airwaysymptoms in symptomaticfarmer.

Sometimes, substances may affect our lungs forsome time before signs of disease are noticed.This is another reason farmers need to beaware of the potentially harmful substancesfound on the farm.

India is a agro based country and in todaysscenario and most of the lungs disease arecaused by agricultural activities

To find whether the people are affected byrespiratory or heart problems while working.

To know about the allergens related tofarming.

To make the people aware of the harmfulsubstances used by them.

To make the farm workers aware of theprecautions they should observe whileworking.

Survey will be carried out on about 5o-50people working in fields and poultry farm.

It is an important longitudinal study.

A schedule will be prepared to assess theproblems faced by the farmers.

Interpretation of the schedule shall be donebased on the norms set.

It is a field research method.

Duration of research will be four months.

www.hse.gov.uk/statistics.

The lung association.

http://en.wikipedia.org

OSHA reference.

The respiratory system