Abstract
Since the number of greenhouse workers are increasing in China, this observational cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate lung function and discuss the potential risk factors, to provide evidence in the surveillance of greenhouse workers’ health. 678 greenhouse workers in Gansu Province, China were enrolled. A questionnaire which included demographic and occupational information was used. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and FEV1:FVC ratios (FEV1/FVC), maximal expiratory flow after 50% of the FVC has not been exhaled (MEF50), maximal expiratory flow after 25% of the FVC has not been exhaled (MEF25) and maximal mid-expiratory flow curve (MMEF) were measured as lung function indicators. The mean values and standard deviations (SDs) of VC% predicted, FVC% predicted, FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FVC ratio were 106.07 ± 13.36, 107.60 ± 13.95, 97.19 ± 14.80 and 89.76 ± 10.78 respectively. The positive rates of above four and abnormal lung ventilation function were 2.9%, 2.8%, 11.2%, 4.6% and 6.5% respectively. Gender, age, BMI and number of greenhouses owned were influence factors of lung ventilation function (p < 0.05). The mean values and SDs of MEF50% predicted, MEF25% predicted and MMEF% predicted were 69.63 ± 24.95, 54.04 ± 24.94 and 66.81 ± 24.53. The positive rates of above three and abnormal small airway function were 45.0%, 72.1%, 47.2% and 49.4% respectively. Age, education and number of greenhouses owned were influence factors for small airway function (p < 0.05). Working in a greenhouse might influence lung function of the workers. Small airway function indicators could be used as priority indicators for the surveillance of greenhouse workers’ health.
Highlights
Greenhouses have played an important role in agriculture
A total of 783 participants were investigated, but some of them were excluded because they failed the lung function test (4.7%) or were not qualified according the inclusion criteria or their questionnaires were lack of essential information
The mean value and standard deviations (SDs) of greenhouse working lifetime was 12.77 ± 6.59 years. 86.6% of the subjects ended their education after middle school or before. 33% were ever-smokers. 89.7% owned no more than 3 greenhouses. 95.0% planted chili as cash crops. 73.3% did not wear a mask while working in the greenhouse (Table 1)
Summary
Greenhouses have played an important role in agriculture. China has become a country which hosts a huge plant area inside greenhouses, and a large amount of people perform greenhouse work.the health conditions of greenhouse workers were not as satisfactory as the economic interests that greenhouse brought. Greenhouses have played an important role in agriculture. China has become a country which hosts a huge plant area inside greenhouses, and a large amount of people perform greenhouse work. The health conditions of greenhouse workers were not as satisfactory as the economic interests that greenhouse brought. The micro environment inside a greenhouse is semi-closed, factors including physical factors, ergonomic factors, chemical factors and biological factors could do harm to greenhouse workers’ health. Physical factors include high temperature and humidity, lack of fresh air, Int. J. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 956; doi:10.3390/ijerph14090956 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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