[Farm work, dust exposure and respiratory symptoms among farmers]

Prevalence and Characteristics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Dairy Farmers

Objective: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in dairy farmers, and evaluate the role of job exposure and smoking as predictors for respiratory health impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed, including 83 dairy farmers (mean age: 52.6±8.7 years; mean exposure duration: 23.7±7.6 years) and 80 office workers as a control group (mean age: 52.7±8.2 years) matched for age, smoking habits, and socioeconomic status. Methods for evaluation of study participants included a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months, baseline spirometry and bronchodilator reversibility testing, and diagnostic criteria for COPD. Results: The mean post-bronchodilator values of spirometric parameters are significantly lower in subjects among EG with negative bronchodilator test compared to those in CG, while the mean post-bronchodilator values of spirometric parameters are lower in dairy farmers with negative BD tests exposed more than 20 years compared to those with exposure less than 20 years, being statistically significant for FEV1/FVC%, MEF25, MEF50 and MEF75. The COPD prevalence is non-significantly higher in dairy farmers compared to controls, and is significantly associated with age over 40 years in dairy farmers (P=0.035). The risk for COPD development in dairy farmers is about 36 fold higher in subjects exposed more than 20 years (OR = 36.00 (1.21-37.77) CI 95%) compared to those with exposure duration less than 20 years, and is about 6 fold higher in dairy farmers who are current smokers (OR = 6.12 (0.95-37.77) CI 95%). COPD is significantly associated with smoking duration among smokers in both groups, while combined effect of smoking, smoking duration, and number of cigarettes smoked daily has a significant impact on COPD development in dairy farmers. According to the GOLD classification, depending on the degree of airflow limitation, mild and moderate types of COPD are detected in dairy farmers, and only mild type in controls, showing no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The study findings recognized the role of farming exposure, and smoking as well, as predictors for respiratory health impairment, and furthermore confirmed their potential to be a predictive factor in the COPD development. These facts should be helpful in detection of critical points for action, indicate the need of adverse occupational exposures reduction through adequate preventive measures and regular health examinations, implementation of relevant engineering controls, smoking cessation programs, and complete and efficient respiratory health assessment.

Child Labor in Family Tobacco Farms in Southern Brazil: Occupational Exposure and Related Health Problems

Tobacco farming is considered Hazardous Child Labor in Brazil. This study examined the work of children and adolescents in tobacco farming, characterizing the level of urinary cotinine and the occurrence of Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS), pesticide poisoning, respiratory symptoms, and musculoskeletal disorders. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a random sample of tobacco growers under 18 years old in Southern Brazil. Ninety-nine young people were interviewed at 79 family farms. The majority began working in agriculture before they were 14 and worked harvesting and tying hands of tobacco; 60% were 16 or 17 years old, and 51.5% were male. During their lifetime, 24.5% reported GTS, and 3% reported pesticide poisoning. In the previous year, 29.3% reported low back pain, 6.1% wheezing, and 16.2% coughing without having a cold. Half of the 12 young people evaluated had over 100 ng/mL of urinary cotinine. The study indicates that child laborers do various activities and present a high prevalence of health problems. Health workers should be trained to identify child laborers and their impacts on health. Full-time farm schools could provide knowledge about sustainable agricultural production, reducing the rates of age-grade mismatch, without taking young people away from rural areas.

Self-reported hearing difficulty in workers exposed to industrial dust in southern Brazil

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between self-reported hearing difficulties and occupational exposure to industrial dust in workers in southern Brazil.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional analytical study conducted with data from the National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013). The dependent variable was self-reported hearing impairment, and the primary independent variable was occupational exposure to industrial dust. The covariables were: sex, skin color, age in complete years, exposure to noise, and exposure to chemical substances. The variables of occupational exposure to noise and chemical substances were used as adjustment variables (confounding variables), and the analyses were stratified per state (Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul) to verify the difference in magnitude results per region. For the crude and adjusted analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was used as a measure of association, estimated through the logistic regression analysis. The data were analyzed through the software Stata, version 14.

RESULTS

Regarding the main exposure, 10.1% of the sample (n = 490) reported being exposed to industrial dust in an occupational environment, while 7.0% reported hearing impairment. In the final analysis, workers exposed to industrial dust were 1.77 times more likely to report hearing impairment when compared to individuals not exposed to this agent.

CONCLUSION

There was an association between hearing impairment and exposure to industrial dust in workers in the southern region of Brazil.

Chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function status in Ethiopian agricultural workers: a comparative study

Background

Work-related respiratory disorders are major contributors to the global burden of respiratory diseases. Agricultural workers are exposed to a number of dusts, which may contribute to the development of respiratory disorders. However, the knowledge about the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function status in African farmers was limited. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function status of Ethiopian farmers exposed to farming activities.

Methods

A community based comparative cross sectional study was conducted among 288 agricultural workers (farmers) aged 18 to 65 years and 288 control subjects (non-agricultural workers). Data were collected by interviewer administered structured questionnaires adopted from British Medical Research Council respiratory questionnaire and American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Diseases questionnaire. Moreover, all study participants underwent spirometry.

Results

The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was higher in farmers than in controls, with significant difference for cough (20.5% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.001) and phlegm (19.1% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.001). Chronic respiratory symptoms among farmers were significantly associated with duration of agricultural exposure (p = 0.014). The mean values of all spirometric parameters were lower in farmers than in controls with significant difference for FVC, FEV1, FEF_25%, FEF_50%, FEF_25–75% and PEFR. Moreover, the mean values of all spirometric parameters of farmers have found to be decreased with increased duration of workplace exposure. Lung function test results also showed a higher prevalence of obstructive (15.6% vs. 10.8%, p = 0.085) and restrictive type (12.8% vs. 3.1%, p <  0.001) of pulmonary function impairment in farmers than in controls. However, the difference was not significant for obstructive type of impairment.

Conclusion

This study indicated that farmers are at high risk for the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and reduced pulmonary function indices. Hence, a comprehensive occupational safety practices are important to maintain the respiratory health of farmers.

The association of self-reported respiratory system diseases with farming activity among farmers of greenhouse vegetables

Objectives

Several studies have investigated the link between agricultural activities of open-field farmers and the prevalence of respiratory diseases, but the relationship with greenhouse vegetable farmers remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 1,366 participants from four villages in China provided information about their agricultural activities and symptoms of diagnosed respiratory system diseases. The Poisson regression model and zero-inflated Poisson regression model were used to assess the association between diseases, symptoms, and agricultural activities.

Results

The prevalence of respiratory diseases was 3.59%, and the rates of four main symptoms (cough, tachypnea, chest distress, and hemoptysis) were 17.21%, 8.56%, 10.25%, and 1.61%, respectively. Mix spray of pesticides associated with cough, tachypnea and chest distress, 1.740-, 3.385- and 2.882-fold likelihood were found than hand spray, and the significant association were detected in empty, general information, life-style information adjusted models.

Conclusions

The relationship between agricultural activities and respiratory diseases is unclear. However, use of the mix spray method of pesticide application may increase the risk of cough, tachypnea, and chest distress.

Occupational exposures to agricultural dust by Western Australian wheat-belt farmers during seeding operations

Agricultural operations routinely expose farm workers to high levels of soil dust and other airborne particulate matter that have been linked to adverse health outcomes. The main objective of this study was to investigate exposure to agricultural dust during seeding operations of Western Australian farm workers. Twenty-one wheat-belt farms were recruited to participate in the study. Data were collected over the 6-week seeding period of April-June 2014. Each farm was visited once, and workers were asked to complete a workplace survey that asked questions related to minimizing exposure to agricultural dusts and occupational health and safety issues on their farm. Farmers were also asked to simultaneously participate in monitoring of personal exposure to inhalable or respirable dust along with real-time monitoring for particulate air pollution in their tractor cabin. Sampling was undertaken for 4 hr. The results showed that, on average, Western Australian farmers were exposed to personal respirable dust concentrations above the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists recommended guideline values, with some farmers being exposed to concentrations up to seven times higher than the value for respirable dusts. In comparison, in-cabin dust concentrations were lower, although some individual tractors recorded intermittently higher levels, which might be attributed to the type of work activity or process being undertaken. Remaining in tractor cabins with closed doors and windows with properly maintained seals might minimize the infiltration of hazardous dusts and may provide some protection from dust exposures. Future research should focus on educating and providing farm owners and workers with more information on adopting work processes and procedures related to minimizing harmful exposures to agricultural dusts.

Determinants of Chronic Respiratory Symptoms among Pharmaceutical Factory Workers

Background

Chronic respiratory symptoms including chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain are manifestations of respiratory problems which are mainly evolved as a result of occupational exposures. This study aims to assess determinants of chronic respiratory symptoms among pharmaceutical factory workers.

Methods

A case control study was carried out among 453 pharmaceutical factory workers with 151 cases and 302 controls. Data was collected using pretested and structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Result

Previous history of chronic respiratory diseases (AOR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.85–6.12), family history of chronic respiratory diseases (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.51–4.32), previous dusty working environment (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.07–4.78), ever smoking (AOR = 3.66, 95% CI = 1.05–12.72), and service years (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.16–2.99) showed statistically significant association with chronic respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion

Previous history of respiratory diseases, family history of chronic respiratory diseases, previous dusty working environment, smoking, and service years were determinants of chronic respiratory symptoms. Public health endeavors to prevent the burden of chronic respiratory symptoms among pharmaceutical factory workers should target the reduction of adverse workplace exposures and discouragement of smoking.

Workloads and occupational accidents in a rural environment

This study's objective was to identify the types of workload accruing from agricultural work that are recognized by farmworkers and to verify occupational accidents in two rural environments. This quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study was conducted with 259 farmworkers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, Person's Chi-Square test, and coefficient of contingency were used. The workloads most frequently reported by farmers were heat, fungi, chemicals, dust, repetitive movements, heavy load-lifting, and inappropriate postures. Most accidents occurred with farm implements followed by falls. Significant associations were found among different isntruments and accidents. The results suggest the need for investment in health actions in rural environments to prevent or minimize work-related accidents and diseases so that nurses can contribute in a broad and efficient manner.

Occupational exposure to particulate matter from three agricultural crops in California

Agricultural work is a major contributor to California's and the nation's economy and employs a large number of workers. However, agricultural work can have numerous risks, such as exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) and other airborne pollutants with potential adverse health effects. To determine the magnitude of occupational exposures, PM levels were assessed for 89 workers from three major crops in California; almonds, melons and tomatoes. Personal samples were collected for PM2.5 and inhalable PM using personal sampling equipment. Geometric mean concentrations from personal exposure for workers in almonds (inhalable PM=4368 μg/m(3), PM2.5=122 μg/m(3), N=5), tomatoes (inhalable PM=1410 μg/m(3), PM2.5=12 μg/m(3), N=33), and melons (inhalable PM=1118 μg/m(3), PM2.5=19 μg/m(3), N=51) showed high PM exposure when working with these three crops. Large exposure differences by crop were more common than by task (i.e. harvesting, packing and weeding) among the three crops studied. This is the largest study of agricultural workers engaged in hand harvesting, a significant employer of farm labor, and relatively high levels of exposure to PM were measured.

Burden of obstructive lung disease in a rural setting in the Philippines

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with COPD in a rural setting in the Philippines.

METHODS

The study was conducted in two municipalities in Nueva Ecija province in the Philippines. Using the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) protocol and study design, non-hospitalized men or women, aged 40years or older, were recruited by multi-stage random sampling procedures. Participants completed questionnaires on respiratory symptoms and exposure to potential risk factors for COPD, including smoking, occupation and exposure to burning of biomass fuel. Spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society criteria.

RESULTS

Of the 1188 individuals selected for recruitment, 722 had acceptable post-bronchodilator spirometry and were classified according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage. The overall prevalence of COPD for all stages was 20.8%. The prevalence of COPD at GOLD Stage I or higher was greater in men compared with women (26.5% vs 15.3%), and increased between the ages of 40 to >70years. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between all stages of COPD and farming for >40years (odds ratio (OR) 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.43-4.30), use of firewood for cooking for >60years (OR 3.48, 95% CI: 1.57-7.71), a smoking history of ≥20 pack-years (OR 2.86; 95% CI: 1.78-4.60), and a history of tuberculosis (OR 6.31, 95% CI: 2.67-15.0).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence COPD in a rural community in Nueva Ecija, Philippines was 20.8% for GOLD Stage I or higher, and 16.7% for GOLD Stage II or higher. In addition to smoking history, the use of firewood for cooking, working on a farm and a history of tuberculosis were significantly associated with fixed airflow obstruction, as assessed by spirometry.

Employment conditions and health inequities: a case study of Brazil

This paper was prepared for the Employment Conditions and Health Inequalities Knowledge Network (EMCONET), part of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. We describe the Brazilian context of employment conditions, labor conditions and health, their characteristics and causal relationships. The social, political and economic factors that influence these relationships are also presented with an emphasis on social inequalities, and how they are reproduced within the labor market and thereby affect the health and wellbeing of workers. A literature review was conducted in SciELO, LILACS, Google and Google Scholar, MEDLINE and the CAPES Brazilian thesis database. We observed that there are more workers operating in the informal sector than in the formal sector and these former have no social insurance or any other social benefits. Work conditions and health are poor in both informal and formal enterprises since health and safety labor norms are not effective. The involvement of social movements and labor unions in the elaboration and management of workers' health polices and programs with universal coverage, is a promising initiative that is underway nationwide.

Job activities and respiratory symptoms among farmworkers in North Carolina

Respiratory health is an important component of the ability to perform physically demanding work. The authors assessed respiratory symptom prevalence among Latino farmworkers engaged in crop production, and investigated work activities as risk factors for respiratory symptoms. During June to September 2008, 122 farmworkers completed up to 3 questionnaires. The authors estimated associations between work activities and wheezing symptoms using alternating logistic regression, controlling for age and smoking. At the first data collection, 29 (24%) farmworkers reported ever wheezing and 10 (8%) reported wheezing within the past month. Though not statistically significant, the odds of wheezing were elevated for individuals who reported performing tobacco-related work in the last 3 days. The odds were decreased among individuals who reported harvesting activities (odds ratio: 0.3, 95% confidence interval: 0.1, 1.0). Among Latino farmworkers, respiratory symptoms may be associated with work activities.

[Respiratory symptoms in charcoal production workers in the cities of Lindolfo Collor, Ivoti and Presidente Lucena, Brazil]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and smoking, as well as pulmonary function parameters among charcoal production workers in three cities in southern Brazil.

METHODS

This was an observational study including 67 individuals. Data were obtained by means of interviews and spirometry.

RESULTS

Of the 67 workers, 50 (75.0%) were male; mean age, 46.52 +/- 13.25 years; mean BMI, 25.7 +/- 3.85 kg/m(2); FEV1, 3.24 +/- 0.82 L (93.2 +/- 16.0% of predicted); FVC, 4.02 +/- 0.92 L (95.5 +/- 14.3% of predicted); and FEV1/FVC, 80.31 +/- 9.82. The most common upper airway symptoms were sneezing and nasal secretion-in 24 workers (35.82%)-whereas the most common lower airway symptom was cough-in 15 (22.38%).Of the 67 workers, 21 (31.34%) were smokers. In comparison with the nonsmokers, the smokers more often presented with cough (OR = 5.00; p = 0.01), nasal obstruction (OR = 3.50; p = 0.03), nasal itching (OR = 8.80; p = 0.01) and wheezing (OR = 10.0; p = 0.03), as well as presenting with lower FEV1 values (2.93 +/- 0.80 vs. 3.38 +/- 0.80 L; p = 0.04). We detected occupational rhinitis in 14 workers (20.85%), asthma in 4 (5.97%) and COPD in 4 (5.97%).

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory symptoms and airflow reduction were more common in the smoking workers. Controlling the progression of the pyrolysis did not increase the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the charcoal production workers studied.

A saúde no contexto do polo gesseiro de Araripina-Pernambuco, Brasil

O processo de deteriorização socioambiental do polo gesseiro de Pernambuco necessita ser mais bem conhecido. Este artigo objetivou estudar os fatores epidemiológicos que concorrem com a saúde das pessoas. Um estudo epidemiológico transversal foi realizado no período de 2001 a 2003, por meio da aplicação de um questionário fechado no distrito de Morais, município de Araripina, considerado uma das principais localidades de produção de gesso e artefatos. Uma amostra randomizada foi extraída a partir dos 2.486 habitantes, considerando-se como erro aceitável de 5% para o Intervalo de Confiança (IC) de Katz de 95%. Quatrocentas e sessenta e duas pessoas foram entrevistadas e os problemas de saúde mais referidos foram: irritação dos olhos (42,92%), sangramento de nariz (37,39%), tosse (28,26%), cansaço (21,73%), irritação na pele (18,48%), falta de ar (16,26%) e história de doença respiratória pregressa (16,34%), todos estatisticamente significantes. No geral, crianças (de 1 a 9 anos) e idosos ( > 60 anos) relataram mais sintomas respiratórios. A poeira de gesso dentro de casa apresentou-se como um importante indicador qualitativo na avaliação de seu impacto na saúde das pessoas. Nos domicílios avaliados, a presença de poeira de gesso mostrou-se mais prevalente com as queixas de irritação dos olhos (RP = 1,91), irritação na pele (RP = 1,79), cansaço (RP = 1,77) e tosse (RP = 1,70).

Pulmonary crystal-storing histiocytoma in a patient without a lymphoproliferative disorder

Pulmonary crystal-storing histiocytoma is a very rare disorder and is characterized by infiltration of histiocytes with intracytoplasmic accumulation of crystallized immunoglobulins. It is usually associated with lymphoproliferative diseases or plasma cell dyscrasia. Here, we report a case of pulmonary crystal-storing histiocytoma in a 64-year-old man, presenting as a chronic pulmonary consolidation in the lung exposed to asbestos. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical biopsy displayed sheets of large, epithelioid histiocytes filled with a large number of needle-like crystals, showing the accumulation of crystallized polyclonal immunoglobulins. This lesion was consistent with crystal-storing histiocytosis or crystal-storing histiocytoma. With extensive clinical work-up, the current case was not associated with lymphoproliferative diseases. Herein, we present this extremely rare entity of pulmonary pathology, a pulmonary crystal-storing histiocytoma arising in the lung exposed to asbestos, and demonstrate the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of the tumor.

The association between farming activities and respiratory health in rural school age children

This study assessed the prevalence of asthma in Canadian children living on and off farms and the risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms of children exposed to certain farming activities. A cross-sectional survey was sent to parents of school children ages 6 to 13 living in an agricultural community in rural Saskatchewan. History of asthma and respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, or wheeze), location of home, and exposure to farming activities including haying, harvesting, moving, or playing with hay bales, feeding livestock, cleaning or playing in barns, cleaning pens, and emptying or filling grain bins were assessed. The response rate was 90.6% (n = 553). The prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms were 18.8% and 39.8%, respectively, and did not differ by home location (farm/nonfarm). In the adjusted multivariable models conducted with each farming activity separately, children who were exposed to emptying and filling of grain bins had a higher odds of asthma (odds [OR] = 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-4.62]. Reports of playing on or near hay bales (OR = 1.89, 95% CI:1.19-3.01), (OR = 2.08, 95% CI:1.07-4.06), and cleaning pens (OR = 2.70, 95% CI:1.05-6.97) were associated with increased respiratory symptoms. Certain farming activities associated with dust and animals appear to be risk factors for asthma and respiratory symptoms in this study population and should be avoided.

Prevalence and changes in chronic diseases among South Korean farmers: 1998 to 2005

Background

Epidemiologic studies have suggested a unique pattern of disease among farmers in Western countries, but limited information is available about the magnitude of disease prevalence and their changes over time in Asian farmers. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and changes in chronic diseases among farmers with those of other occupational groups in South Korea.

Methods

Using data from three consecutive cross-sectional national surveys: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1998 (n = 39,060), 2001 (n = 37,769), and 2005 (n = 34,145), we calculated age and gender-standardized prevalence of chronic diseases by the direct method and compared the prevalence changes from 1998 to 2005.

Results

Female farmers had significantly higher chronic disease prevalence than other occupational groups in all three surveys. Arthritis was the most prevalent chronic disease among farmers for both men and women. Compared with other populations, farmers demonstrated a higher prevalence of arthritis and intervertebral disc disorders. Farmers showed higher prevalence changes for intervertebral disc disorders than other occupational workers.

Conclusion

Our findings support that South Korean farmers have a distinct pattern of diseases prevalence from other populations. More detailed studies investigating the risk of musculoskeletal diseases and intensive intervention efforts to reduce the prevalence these diseases, particularly among female farmers, are required.

Prevalence of asthma among youth on Hispanic-operated farms in the United States-2000

The objective of this study was to estimate prevalence of asthma and asthma attacks among youth (0-19 years old) working and/or living on Hispanic-operated farms. The 2000 U.S. Minority Farm Operator Childhood Agricultural Injury Survey (M-CAIS) data were used to calculate prevalence of asthma, asthma attacks and serious asthma attacks among youth (0 to 19 years) living on Hispanic-operated farms. Age-specific asthma prevalence rates with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for working and nonworking youth. In 2000, an estimated 17,573 youth lived on Hispanic-operated farms; 7.4% had asthma ever diagnosed, 8.1% had an asthma attack while at work in the last year, and 1.4% had a serious asthma attack. Asthma prevalence was highest among youth aged 16-19 (9.1%), males (8.6%), and those driving tractors (9.7%). Serious asthma attacks that required an emergency room visit or hospitalization in the last year were most prevalent among youth aged 0-9 years (1.8%), males (1.7%), and those riding horses (1.7%). Compared with nonworking youth, prevalence of asthma (8.9% versus 6.1%; <i>p</i> < .05) and serious asthma attacks (1.6% versus 1.3%; <i>p</i> > .05) was higher among working youth. Prevalence of asthma attacks in the last year while at work was also significantly higher among males than females (8.6% versus 6.0%; <i>p</i> < .05) and among youth living on livestock farms than among youth on crop farms (9.4% versus 7.4%; <i>p</i> < .05). These findings contribute to the limited information on asthma among youth working on Hispanic-operated farms, and indicate the need for asthma prevention programs on farms and intervention studies targeting farming youth populations.

Behavior change, environmental hazards and respiratory protection among a southern farm community

The agricultural industry ranks as one of the most dangerous in terms of occupational deaths and injuries. A wide variety of respiratory illnesses can result from the exposure to grain and organic dusts and working in animal confinement facilities and barns. This article analyzes the Transtheoretical Model of Change for implications relevant to health promotion and education. This study explored differences of perception of occupational health, environmental exposures, and stages of change consistent with the readiness to take action and the confidence to act toward respiratory health among farmers who report respiratory symptoms with physical activity and those who do not. A convenience sample of 123 farm owners and agricultural employees recruited from community-based agricultural events in southeast and central Louisiana completed three surveys: (a) Health Risk and Environmental Assessment; (b) Identification of Respiratory Mask Use; (c) Stage of Awareness and Preventive Respiratory Health; and demographic information. Subjects performed pulmonary function tests including three Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) maneuvers while connected to a Renaissance spirometer. Even though the majority of subjects rated themselves in action stage of change, subjects reported using respiratory protective devices less than 10% of the time. No significant differences were found in environmental exposures. Using chi-square analysis, those farmers who reported breathlessness were significantly more likely to report fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness. Those farmers who report breathlessness are significantly less likely to perceive respiratory health as important compared to other occupational illnesses/conditions. There is a need for additional studies to further examine the relationship between respiratory symptoms, exposure risks, and behavior change theory.