Associations of Occupational Exposures on Environmental Allergies Among Farmers and Ranchers in the Central United States.

IMPORTANCE

Environmental allergies plague millions of adults every year. Farmers and ranchers are at a heightened risk of exposure to allergens due to their occupation.

OBJECTIVE

Few studies have addressed the contribution of occupational exposures to environmental allergies and potential preventive strategies to reduce exposure. The objective of this study is to determine whether occupational exposures affect the risk of environmental allergies among farmers and ranchers in the central midwestern states.

DESIGN

Surveillance data from the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Surveys from 2018, 2020, and 2023 were analyzed to investigate risk factors for environmental allergies. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations.

SETTING

The study was conducted across seven states, including Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Surveys were mailed to randomly selected agricultural operations.

PARTICIPANTS

Eligible participants were farm and ranch operators with an email address and an estimated gross farm income of at least $5,000. The study was sent to "operators" defined as those who manage a farm or ranch business.

MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S): The primary outcome variable is the presence of environmental allergies, assessed through self-reported physician-diagnosed allergies. The primary variable of interest was air contaminant exposure. Additional predictor variables included skin exposures, musculoskeletalexposures, workstrain symptoms,musculoskeletal discomfort, sex, age, type of operation, primary occupation, percentage of worktime, and production variables.

RESULTS

Beingfemale (OR = 1.84) and having a primary occupation other than farm/ranch work (OR = 1.47) were significantly associated with higher odds of environmental allergies. Surprisingly, participants without symptoms of work strain (OR = 1.72), musculoskeletal discomfort (OR = 1.93), and musculoskeletal exposures (OR = 1.48) were positivelyassociated with environmental allergies. Occupational exposures, including respiratory exposure to grain, feed, or hay dust (OR = 1.43), road dust (OR = 1.39), skin contact with pesticides or fertilizers (OR = 1.22), and detergents and disinfectants (OR = 1.22) increased theodds of having environmental allergies. Dairy (OR = 0.61) and grainproduction (OR = 0.75) decreased the odds.

CONCLUSIONSAND RELEVANCE: These findings highlight the need for occupational health interventions aimed at reducing respiratory and skin exposures in farm and ranch environments.