farm health concerns: CDC data

CDC just completed a large and detailed study using farmers in Iowa and North Carolina. This is the largest and most comprehensive rural health study in the US so far. The findings are very important, even to non-farmers. Just one of the important findings is briefly represented by this quote form the CDC Rural Health page. While the cancer risk for farmers is less than the national population, farmers have more asthma and wheezing(a symptom closely assoc with asthma) than expected. " The pesticides most strongly associated with wheeze were paraquat, EPTC, parathion, malathion, and chlorpyrifos. This association could not be explained by other risk factors for wheeze such as age, smoking, asthma and allergy history, or other farm activities such as contact with animals, grains and dusts. " More can on this specific topic and the rest of the study can be found at: [url=http://aghealth.nci.nih.gov/results.html#top]http://aghealth.nci.nih.gov/results.html#top[/url]

Other very important findings are available including injury statistics and other risk factors for farmers and their families. Specific chemicals were examined. Please be careful out there.

Linda

The article you posted is right on. For years farm workers have been exposed to farm chemicals and farm dust which endangers and many times shortens their lives.

Keep up the good work. The more we can educate the better we are doing for our farm families, whether they be large farms or family farms.

And lets not forget hazards around the yard and home too. The fumes in our garages contain far more dangerous chemicals than many farms use. It's important to worry about the real hazards and not get side tracked. I was surprised at the level of accidents and respiratory problems.

It's not all about farm chemicals, everyone should be careful around the yard and home and garage and shop because of the chemicals used there too. Don't forget to read those labels and use with caution.

Included in this is also mold and other bacteria. Not only in homes with moisture/flooding, etc., but also with wet grains having mold.

Reading chemical labels are important - but also a visual inspection.


nascargirl

I just found some mold on my wall in the bedroom, where we spend 8 hours a night. Rats! Not a good thing. It's been kind of humid alright.