Abstract
Aim The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in seasonal agricultural workers living in fields with toxic chemical exposure. Methods European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in the study. Results Of the study group, 51.1% (267) were male and the age of the study group ranged from 18 to 88 years and the mean (SD) was 45.68 (13.39) years. The prevalence of asthma attacks in seasonal agricultural workers in the last one year (current prevalence) was 11.2%; the prevalence of asthma (cumulative prevalence) was 15.1%. In the study, smoking was found to be an important risk factor for current asthma. The prevalence of cumulative asthma was higher in seasonal agricultural workers with allergic rhinitis (p < 0.05 for each). Conclusions Seasonal agricultural workers are exposed to the worst conditions of working groups. These difficult conditions also cause many health problems. Asthma has also been identified as an important health problem among seasonal agricultural workers.
Highlights
Seasonal agricultural workers are agricultural workers migrating to places where agricultural demand is high, migrating to their own countries at the end of the season
The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 23.5% and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis was higher in females than in males (p = 0:034) in seasonal agricultural workers
Allergic respiratory diseases have been identified as an important health problem among seasonal agricultural workers
Summary
Seasonal agricultural workers are agricultural workers migrating to places where agricultural demand is high, migrating to their own countries at the end of the season This group is a vulnerable group because of the inadequacy of living conditions and the inability to reach basic human rights services [1]. The main causes of health problems of agricultural workers can be summarized as education level, low socioeconomic level, bad climatic conditions, safety of working tools, working hours, direct contact with animals and plants, bite, poisoning, parasites, allergies, and chemical products used [2]. Toxic chemicals such as pesticides may contribute to airway reactivity and asthma among agricultural workers. Pesticides may modulate inflammatory responses to other agricultural exposures, such as endotoxin and allergens [3, 4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
