Farmer exposure to organic solvents during the maintenance and repair of farm machinery: A pilot study

Bunn, Terry L.; Liu, You‐Cheng; Lee, Ki-Young; Robertson, Medearis; Yu, Lei

doi:10.1002/ajim.20773

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…Occupational exposure to organic solvents like toluene has been studied in workers from paint factories and semiconductor industries but rarely in the context of agricultural work, even though there is evidence that agricultural workers are routinely exposed to organic solvents from farm machinery maintenance and repair [ 168 , 169 , 170 ]. Sub-chronic exposures to toluene at sub-toxic levels can also alter catecholamine synthesis rates in the brain leading to sympathetic nervous system dysfunction, as demonstrated in animal models [ 171 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors for Brain Health in Agricultural Work: A Systematic Review

Sturm

Castro

Mendez-Colmenares

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Certain exposures related to agricultural work have been associated with neurological disorders. To date, few studies have included brain health measurements to link specific risk factors with possible neural mechanisms. Moreover, a synthesis of agricultural risk factors associated with poorer brain health outcomes is missing. In this systematic review, we identified 106 articles using keywords related to agriculture, occupational exposure, and the brain. We identified seven major risk factors: non-specific factors that are associated with agricultural work itself, toluene, pesticides, heavy metal or dust exposure, work with farm animals, and nicotine exposure from plants. Of these, pesticides are the most highly studied. The majority of qualifying studies were epidemiological studies. Nigral striatal regions were the most well studied brain area impacted. Of the three human neuroimaging studies we found, two focused on functional networks and the third focused on gray matter. We identified two major directions for future studies that will help inform preventative strategies for brain health in vulnerable agricultural workers: (1) the effects of moderators such as type of work, sex, migrant status, race, and age; and (2) more comprehensive brain imaging studies, both observational and experimental, involving several imaging techniques.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors for Brain Health in Agricultural Work: A Systematic Review

Sturm

Castro

Mendez-Colmenares

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…All organic solvents were extracted and detected from the patches indicating the potential for dermal exposure. 93 Potential health effects associated with exposure include neuropathy, CNS effects, and skin irritation. 89 Occupational exposures have been associated with damage to motor and sensory nerves often resulting in symptoms such as numbness and paresthesia in the distal extremities, which tend to improve over time.…”

Section: Manufacturingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Health Effects Associated with Dermal Exposure to Occupational Chemicals

Anderson

Meade

2014

Environ�Health�Insights

142

112

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There are a large number of workers in the United States, spanning a variety of occupational industries and sectors, who are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. Occupational skin exposures can result in numerous diseases that can adversely affect an individual’s health and capacity to perform at work. In general, there are three types of chemical–skin interactions of concern: direct skin effects, immune-mediated skin effects, and systemic effects. While hundreds of chemicals (metals, epoxy and acrylic resins, rubber additives, and chemical intermediates) present in virtually every industry have been identified to cause direct and immune-mediated effects such as contact dermatitis or urticaria, less is known about the number and types of chemicals contributing to systemic effects. In an attempt to raise awareness, skin notation assignments communicate the potential for dermal absorption; however, there is a need for standardization among agencies to communicate an accurate description of occupational hazards. Studies have suggested that exposure to complex mixtures, excessive hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, high frequency of wet work, and environmental or other factors may enhance penetration and stimulate other biological responses altering the outcomes of dermal chemical exposure. Understanding the hazards of dermal exposure is essential for the proper implementation of protective measures to ensure worker safety and health.

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“…The long-term effects of WBV and HAV exposure have been well characterized and include disorders of peripheral circulatory and nervous systems as well as injuries of the muscular-skeletal system (Lin et al, 2005;Johanning, 2015). Farmers are exposed to WBV through the use of all-terrain vehicles in agriculture (Milosavljevic et al, 2010), and are also exposed to chemicals such as pesticides (Wang et al, 2017a) and organic solvents (Bunn et al, 2009) that may have thyroid toxic effects (Saad-Hussein et al, 2011;Hassani et al, 2014). Indeed, female workers exposed to organic solvents (formaldehyde, phenol, N-hexane and chloroform) within the pharmaceutical industry have been reported as having higher levels of TSH than non-exposed individuals (Hassani et al, 2014).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Radiation, Organic Solvents and Vibration Occupational Exposure on the Thyroid Disease: Results from Project ELEFANT

Yuan

Osorio-Yáñez

Fang

et al. 2021

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Thyroid disease is one of the leading endocrine disorders. Occupational exposure to radiation and organic solvents are known to be risk factors, but much less is known about the effect of vibration exposure on thyroid disease risk. The aim of this study was to examine associations between occupational exposure to radiation, organic solvents and vibration in relation to thyroid disease risk and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. We utilized Project ELEFANT, comprising 124,286 participants from Tianjin, China. Medical records including thyroid disease history were collected, and TSH levels were measured in women by automated immunometric assay. In logistic models adjusted for confounders, exposure to radiation (odds ratio, OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.1-2.7), organic solvents (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.3-2.9) and vibration (OR: 4.4; 95% CI: 2.0-8.75) were significantly associated with increased risk of thyroid disease. TSH concentrations in female participants (median: 1.95 and 95% CI: 2.45-2.77) were associated only with vibration exposure (ß: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.07-4.54). Our data showed for the first time that vibration exposure is associated with increased risk of thyroid disease and raised TSH hormone levels. If confirmed in other cohorts, thyroid examinations should be conducted in workers exposed to vibration in the workplace.

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Farmer exposure to organic solvents during the maintenance and repair of farm machinery: A pilot study

Abstract: Farmers routinely use solvent products for farm machinery maintenance/repair. Dermal exposure to organic solvents is a potential hazard. Further studies to characterize and evaluate exposure in larger samples of farmers are needed.

Cited by 10 publications

References 31 publications

Risk Factors for Brain Health in Agricultural Work: A Systematic Review

Risk Factors for Brain Health in Agricultural Work: A Systematic Review

Potential Health Effects Associated with Dermal Exposure to Occupational Chemicals

Effect of Radiation, Organic Solvents and Vibration Occupational Exposure on the Thyroid Disease: Results from Project ELEFANT

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