• Title/Summary/Keyword: Agricultural workers' diseases

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Dermal Exposure Associated with Occupational End Use of Pesticides and the Role of Protective Measures

  • MacFarlane, Ewan;Carey, Renee;Keegel, Tessa;El-Zaemay, Sonia;Fritschi, Lin
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.4 no.3
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    • pp.136-141
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    • 2013
  • Background: Occupational end users of pesticides may experience bodily absorption of the pesticide products they use, risking possible health effects. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers working in the field of agricultural health or other areas where occupational end use of pesticides and exposure issues are of interest. Methods: This paper characterizes the health effects of pesticide exposure, jobs associated with pesticide use, pesticide-related tasks, absorption of pesticides through the skin, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for reducing exposure. Conclusions: Although international and national efforts to reduce pesticide exposure through regulatory means should continue, it is difficult in the agricultural sector to implement engineering or system controls. It is clear that use of PPE does reduce dermal pesticide exposure but compliance among the majority of occupationally exposed pesticide end users appears to be poor. More research is needed on higher-order controls to reduce pesticide exposure and to understand the reasons for poor compliance with PPE and identify effective training methods.

Comparison of Weekly and Batch Management System for Sows (모돈의 주간관리와 그룹관리 비교)

  • Jang, Young-Dal;Ju, Won-Seok;Long, Hong-Feng;Piao, Long-Guo;Jang, Sung-Kwon;Chung, Chung-Soo;Kim, Yoo-Yong
    • Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.171-182
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    • 2009
  • Conventionally, many pig producers have utilized a continual sow managements system that the matings, farrowings and weanings are done weekly basis. But this transitional method is not able to cut the cycle of diseases and fully apply all-in/all-out system because of the continuous flow of sows and pigs. Conventional weekly management system is currently limiting in small farm to work efficiently both for workers and pigs. Therefore, pig producers have found novel management methods for applying all-in/all-out system, improving pig health, leading to better growth, lowering mortality and reducing medication costs nowadays. Moreover, all-in/all-out pig management system has known as a strategy for improving productivity in swine farm. The batch system is one of the best management methods to adopt all-in/all-out pig management system that prevent spreading diseases in pig and remove cycle of diseases. Batch farrowing system is a concept for providing a group of sows that delivery within a specific farrowing interval and inducing a large enough scale of piglets to fill the weaner facilities. There are different types of batch farrowing system with batch size and interval of farrowing when several factors at the swine farm are considered such as total number of sows, available facilities in the farm, and the efficiency of workforce. Sow managements such as farrowing, weaning and breeding, every 3 weeks rather than weekly, 2 or 5-week interval have advantages for workers and reproductive cycle of sows as well as pig flow. Because there are several pros and cons both in weekly and batch management system, various factors should be considered to apply the most suitable management system in each individual farm. To improve poor swine productivity in Korea compared to ED, batch system for sows will be an alternative choice which is able to prevent high incidence of diseases in swine farm such as PMWS, PRRS, PRDC and PED because all-in/all-out pig management can be also applied automatically by using this management system.

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Analysis of working posture of forest trail construction (숲길 조성공사 작업자의 작업자세 분석에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Myeong-Kyo;Park, Bum-Jin;Lee, Joon-Woo;Choi, Sung-Min
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.42 no.2
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    • pp.117-124
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    • 2015
  • In forest work, working conditions are very hard to improve. The good posture is believed to bring about direct improvements such as accident prevention. Therefore, this research carried on analysis of working posture in forest work (construct in stepping-stone) using OWAS analysis system. According to the analytical results provided by OWAS, the ratio of category III (Work posture has a distinctly harmful effect on the musculoskeletal system) has shawn that worker 2 was 32.2%, worker 1 was 25.2% and worker 3 was 15.5%. Furthermore, the ratio of category IV (Work posture with an extremely harmful effect on the musculoskeletal system) has shown that worker 2 was 9.8%, worker 3 was 1.4% and worker 1 was 1.2%. According to the OWAS method, percentage of OWAS action categories III and IV in the worker 2 was higher than another workers.

Biomonitoring of Toxic Effects of Pesticides in Occupationally Exposed Individuals

  • Arshad, Muhammad;Siddiqa, Maryam;Rashid, Saddaf;Hashmi, Imran;Awan, Muhammad Ali;Ali, Muhammad Arif
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.156-160
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    • 2016
  • Background: Workers in pesticide manufacturing industries are constantly exposed to pesticides. Genetic biomonitoring provides an early identification of potential cancer and genetic diseases in exposed populations. The objectives of this biomonitoring study were to assess DNA damage through comet assay in blood samples collected from industry workers and compare these results with those of classical analytical techniques used for complete blood count analysis. Methods: Samples from controls (n = 20) and exposed workers (n = 38) from an industrial area in Multan, Pakistan, were subjected to various tests. Malathion residues in blood samples were measured by gas chromatography. Results: The exposed workers who were employed in the pesticide manufacturing industry for a longer period (i.e., 13-25 years) had significantly higher DNA tail length ($7.04{\mu}m$) than the controls ($0.94{\mu}m$). Workers in the exposed group also had higher white blood cell and red blood cell counts, and lower levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), MCH concentration, and mean corpuscular volume in comparison with normal levels for these parameters. Malathion was not detected in the control group. However, in the exposed group, 72% of whole blood samples had malathion with a mean value of 0.14 mg/L (range 0.01-0.31 mg/L). Conclusion: We found a strong correlation ($R^2=0.91$) between DNA damage in terms of tail length and malathion concentration in blood. Intensive efforts and trainings are thus required to build awareness about safety practices and to change industrial workers' attitude to prevent harmful environmental and anthropogenic effects.

A Studs on Farmers Syndrome and Its Risk Factors of Vinylhouse Workers and Evaluation of Risk Factors of Vinylhouse Works (일부 농촌지역 비닐하우스 농사자들의 작업환경 및 농부증 실태와 관련요인평가)

  • Lee, Jung-Jeung
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.101-119
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    • 2004
  • Objectives: In order to estimate risk factors affecting the health of vinylhouse workers and harmful environments in vinylhouse working. Methods: The investigator performed questionnaires and laboratory examinations on 102 vinylhouse workers and 69 farmers in 7 myoens (Korean subcounties). one eup (a Korean town), Goryeong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do between April 8 and 18, 2004 (for 11 days), and measured the heavy metal in the air and the soil, temperature, humidity, air current, harmful gases in vinylhouses. Results: Even in cloudy days, the temperature in vinylhouses in daylight was $33.4^{\circ}$ and the temperature difference between inside and outside vinylhouses was around $16^{\circ}$. Oxygen concentration was similar inside and outside vinylhouses, while carbon dioxide concentration was lower inside than outside vinylhouses. Carbon monoxide was not detected. In the air inside vinylhouses, cadmium was not detected. Lean concentration in the soil was lower inside vinylhouses than outside vinylhouses at surface, while cadmium concentration was similar inside and outside vinylhouses in the soil except some areas. Out of male vinylhouse workers. 16.4---- were positive farmer's syndrome and 49.2---- were suspicious, while out of females, 41.5---- were positive and 46.3---- were suspicious. Out of male farmers, 30.4---- were positive farmer's syndrome, while out of female farmers, 60.0---- were positive and 28.3---- were suspicious. There was no difference between vinylhouse workers and farmers in the distribution of hypertension and abnormal liver function, while diabetes mellitus was more common in farmers than in vinylhouse workers. Vinylhouse working, sex, and hours of farming per day were selected as significant variables affecting farmer's syndrome in this study, and the rate of positive farmer's syndrome was rather lower in vinylhouse workers than in farmers. Females were higher than males in the rate, and those who farmed at least 10 hours per day were higher in the rate than those who farmed less than 10 hours per day. Out of the vinylhouse workers, no differences were found between the distribution of farmer's syndrome and farming-related variables such as the total period of farming, the size of farm land, the mean farming hours per day, the number of family members who farm together, the frequency of scattering agricultural chemicals. In addition, there were no differences between the distribution and the wearing masks and protectors and personal sanitation among those who scattered agricultural chemicals by themselves. There were no differences found in blood lean concentration, urinary cadmium concentration, serum cholinesterase, and hemoglobin according to the distribution of farmer's syndrome. In the vinylhouse workers, females were higher than males in the rate of farmer's syndrome, and those who farmed at least 10 hours per day were higher in the rate than those who farmed less than 10 hours per day. Meanwhile, the rate was lower in those who slept at least 8 hours a day than in those who slept less than 8 hours. Conclusions: In conclusion, the physical environments inside vinylhouses were harmful, but no significant difference was found in harmfulness of the chemical environments. The chronic diseases such as farmer's syndrome. hypertension, diabetes, and dyshepatia were not common in the vinylhouse workers than in the farmers. Meanwhile, farmer's syndrome was more common in the vinylhouse workers who worked longer and slept less.

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Health Condition and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Greenhouse Vegetable Farmers (시설채소 농업인의 건강 상태 및 근골격계 질환 실태)

  • Kim, Kyung Ran;Choi, Jeong Hwa;Lee, Kyung Suk;Song, Eun Young
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.49-61
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    • 2008
  • The objective of this study is to survey the risk factors of greenhouse vegetables farmers' work-related musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs). To offer the fundamental data for agricultural improvement of greenhouse vegetable farms, the questionnaire of MSDs and heath condition were carried out. A group of 736 workers(males=492, females=244) in 6 branches constitutes the population and database for the analysis between 2004 and 2005. The sample branch was chosen based on paper are watermelon, strawberry, tomato, melon, cucumber, lettuce. The results are as follows: 1. Smoking rates in cucumber and tomato is the highest. 2. Drinking rates in strawberry, cucumber and lettuce is the highest in males, watermelon and melon are the highest in females. 3. Regular exercise rates in melon are the highest. 4. Physical and mental fatigue in females is higher than that of males in most crops except melon. That of strawberry and tomato is the highest. 5. The prevalence rates of medical diagnosed diseases are higher in order of osteoarthritis, herniated nucleus pulposus(HNP), and hypertension. That of strawberry, melon, and cucumber is high in case of osteoarthritis; Strawberry, melon, and watermelon are high in case of HNP. 6. Prevalence rates of musculoskeletal symptoms among the various pain areas are higher in order of low back, knees, and shoulders. That of tomato and watermelon is high in case of low back; strawberry and tomato are high in case of knees. These results can be used practically for agricultural improvement of greenhouse vegetables farms to prevent MSDs.

A Case Study of Developing E-Learning Contents of Agricultural Safety and Health based on Risk Assessment (위험성 평가에 기반한 농작업 안전관리 E-Learning 체험 프로그램 개발 사례 연구)

  • Kim, J.H.;Lee, K.S.;Kim, D.M.;Lee, K.S.;Kong, Y.K.;Jung, M.C.;Lee, Inseok
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.140-146
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    • 2014
  • This paper presents a case study to develop e-learning contents of agricultural safety based on the assessment of risks of 4 selected crops and stock farming: rice, potatoes, apples, tomatoes and stock raising. The aged farmers, who are main workforce of current Korean agriculture and relatively more vulnerable to various risks of agricultural work compared to younger workers, were considered as the main users of the contents in developing them. The safety guidelines were presented as simple as possible and the interfaces were designed to be simple and easy to use so that the older users can use it without much difficulty. In making the scenarios of the contents, risk assessments were carried out for each crop and stock farming with the focus being on occupational diseases rather than accidental injuries. To make the contents more attractive to the farmers, the functions requiring active responses from the users, such as answering simple questions, were included in the contents. Usability evaluation by experts of ergonomics and agricultural tasks were carried out in modifying the draft version, whereas formal usability test was not included in the case study. Though there are some limitations in the developed contents in the aspects of evaluation of usability and effectiveness, this case study shows the structured procedure of developing e-learning safety contents based on the risk assessments on agricultural tasks. The developed e-learning contents are expected to be used practically and easily in educating and training older farmers about safety and health of agricultural tasks.

Pattern on Enterobius vermicularis in Korea (한국(韓國)에 있어서의 요충감염상(蟯虫感染相))

  • Lee, Joon-Sang;Kim, Kyu-Ho;Ryu, Jong-Cheol;Hong, Kyung-Sook;Lee, Hae-Jung;Rim, Han-Jong
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.18-26
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    • 1978
  • Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infestation in present day Korea has become one of nationwide problems. But, the incidence of pinworm infestation having been reported by many workers was almostly the data for specific groups. The incidence of pinworm infestation for 208 families of 760(male; 30, female;420) middle class inhabitant of Seoul, 238 subrural inhabitants in Gyeonggi Province and 150(male;77, female;73) rural primary students in three different districts were examined by modified Gralam's scotch-tape swab method. The results are summarized as follows; 1. The incidence of nationwide infestation a. The nationwide incidence of pinworm infestation of the 1,148 specimens examined was 28.7% (male; 27.5%, female; 29.6%). b. The highest incidence was found among 5-14 years of age. c. In comparison of the incidence by the area, the highest incidence was found among subrural area, next among rural area and the lowest among urban area. 2, Urban area a. The incidence of the 760 inhabitants examined was 23.2% (male; 24.1%, female; 22. 3%). b. The incidence of the parents group was 12.2% and children group was 30. 30.3%. c. In the parents who hold one or more pinworm poitive cases among children, the incidence of father group was 13.2% and mother group was 29.7%.3. Subrural area a. The incidence of the 238 inhabitants examined was 42.9% (male, 40.8%, female; 44.4%). b. The cumulative positive rate of anal swabs showed increasing tendency. c. Worm collection rates after chemotherapy of 98 inhabitants were 54, 0%. d. In scotch tape anal swab only one times, diagnostic value was 74.0%. e. Mother group infested with pinworm seemed to play an important role for the high incidence in individual family. f. In comparison of the incidence by the examination method, the highest incidence was found among scotch tape method. 4. Rural area The incidence of the 150 primary students examined was 34. 5% (male ; 24. 7%, female; 43.8%).

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Socio-Medical Approach to the Welfare of Rural Residents Through the Education of Community Health Personnel (농촌지역사회 보건요원의 교육을 통한 주민의 보건복지향상에 관한 사회의학적 연구)

  • Yum, Yong-Tae;Lee, Myung-Sook;Cho, Byung-Hee
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.34-45
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    • 1992
  • In this county, the gap between the urban 'haves' and the rural 'have-nots' continues to be an increasing problem. WHO and UNICEF see primary health care(PHC) as the key to achieving an acceptable level of health throughout the world as a community development. PHC is essential health care made accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them. It is the first level of contact of individual, the family, and community with the national health system. It includes at least education on health system. It includes at least education on health problems, promotion of food supply, MCH including family planning, immunization against infectious diseases, control of endemic diseases, treatment of common diseases and injuries, promotion of mental health, and provision of essential drugs. However, of the aboves, education concerning of mental health problems and the methods to identify, prevent, and control them is the principal step of establishment. In Korea, the category of PHC worker includes the physician as public doctor and nurse as primary health care practitioner and community health leader as village health worker. PHC workers of the aboves will thus function best if they are appropriately trained to respond to the health needs of the community. However in this country, since the national PHC service project launched in 1980, the government has not developed and performed appropriate and enough education and training activities. In light of above reasons, several categories of health education activities had been planned and performed being aimed at above specific target groups and the main focus was on the village health workers for about one year from July 1991 to July 1992 in Yeoju Kun of Kyonki Province. At the end of the period, evaluation of education input was carried out to measure the improvement of healthful life of people in terms of awareness, attitude, and practice. At the end of the period, evaluation of education input was carried out to measure the improvement of healthful life of people in terms of awareness, attitude, and practice. The totals of 80 village health workers, 13 public health practitioners and 9 public docters took in the course of health education for a few hours at every month and the evaluation works of educational effect were taken. The results the study were as follows. 1) Number of persons who realized the maxim "health care of the people is a duty of the government" increased after the education course, On the other hand, the rate of satisfaction on the effort of government for health promotion of the people decreased. 2) Public doctors and primary health care practitioners(nurses) liked and enjoyed the education schedule as a meeting of peer group. It provided chances of communication with staffs of Korea University Hospital. It was said that lectures covered great deal of knowledge and technic they urgently needed in the field. 3) After finishing the education course, more of village health workers(VHW) thought they adapted themselves to their roles and functions showing increased number of home visit and contact with primary health care practitioners by month. 4) In case of patient refer, VHW preferred primary health care practitioners to public doctors. 5) Capability of VHWs in most of their functions increased dramatically after when the education course finished except tuberculosis control.

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Education Need of the Visit ing Health Service Workers in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do Public Health Facilities (일부 공공보건기관 방문보건요원의 교육요구도 조사)

  • Kim, Young-Lak;Kim, Shin-Woel;Chung, Eun-Kyung;Choi, Jin-Su
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.51-64
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    • 2002
  • This study was aimed to provide the basic data for the development of effective educational program by reflecting the opinions of the visiting health service workers. The subjects were 144 visiting health service workers in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do area who responded the mail questionnaire. The data were collected from June to July, 2001 using questionnaire composed of the education need, knowledge by subjective appraisal, and experience of education. The major findings of this study were as follows: 1. The number of respondents who received at least one education within recent three years were 43(29.9%) at the central level, 57(39.6%) at the provincial level and 53(36.8%) at the district level. The satisfaction with education was higher at the central level than at the provincial and district level. 2. Knowledges by subjective appraisal on the 'chronic degenerative diseases management' and 'health promotion' was relatively high. while that of 'rehabilitation' was low. 3. The knowledge by subjective appraisal of visiting health service was related with experience of education and license status. The knowledge was higher in registered nurses than in nurse aids. The curricula related to increased level of knowledge of visting health service workers were 'elderly health care', 'rehabilitation' and 'psychiatric-mental health nursing' educations at the central level 'continuing education for the community health practioners' and 'psychiatric-mental health education' at the provincial level and 'elderly health care', 'rehabilitation' 'psychiatric-mental health' and 'acute diseases control' educations at the district level. 4. The respondents preferred elderly health management as the contents of education, officer group education as the method of education, province(30.4%) as the main body of education, exercise and practice as the form of education, 2-3 times per year as the frequency of education, and 3-5days as the period of education. The findings of this study could suggest that future education program should be planned to increae the knowledge level of visiting health service workers by reflecting their educational need.

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