RF-441 Respiratory and allergic symptoms in cannabis cultivation workers, California, USA.

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Cannabis (Cannabis sativa, marijuana) is the largest cash crop in California. While it is difficult to characterize the size of the industry, total production is estimated at 15 to 16 million pounds per year with total revenues exceeding $10 billion per year. There are approximately 40,000 full-time equivalent cannabis jobs in the state. Despite the huge size and rapid growth of the industry, there has been little research on the health and safety of cannabis workers. <h3>Objectives</h3> The goal of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of collecting cannabis worker health data with a self-administered survey and to analyze the first systematically collected data on occupational respiratory and allergic symptoms among California cannabis cultivation workers. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed a cross-sectional survey of 29 workers at two cannabis farms in the Davis/Sacramento, California area. The questionnaire elicited information about the participants’ personal and job characteristics and nasal, respiratory, dermal, and eye symptoms. <h3>Results</h3> All eligible workers chose to participate. Most participants were men age ≤ 30 years, with 48% of participants self-identifying as non-Hispanic white and 58% reporting at least some college education. The median tenure of all work in the cannabis industry was 26 months (IQR: 9, 78). All participants were current or past cannabis users. Five (17%) workers reported physician-diagnosed asthma; however, 11 workers (38%) reported symptoms suggestive of asthma. Work-related symptoms of any type were reported by 11 (38%) participants. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The survey was a satisfactory data collection method. The participants had a demographic makeup distinct from traditional California agricultural workers, who are predominantly Latino, speak Spanish, and have less formal education. The high proportion of respondents with symptoms suggestive of asthma raises concern; sensitization to the cannabis plant has been reported among cannabis users and there are many well-documented agricultural exposures causing asthma and asthma-like syndrome.