Journal of Agromedicine
Volume 19, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 395-405

The Association of Respiratory Symptoms and Indoor Housing Conditions Among Migrant Farmworkers in Eastern North Carolina (Article)

Kearney G.D.* , Chatterjee A.B. , Talton J. , Chen H. , Quandt S.A. , Summers P. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
  • b Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Center forWorker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, the Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • f Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • g Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

Farm labor housing has been described as among the worst in the nation, oftentimes with poor and unsanitary indoor living conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between indoor environmental risk factors and respiratory health among migrant farmworker occupants (N = 352) living in employer-provided housing. A cross-sectional sample of adult Latino male farm laborers were administered a questionnaire to identify the prevalence of major respiratory symptoms. Self-reported and independent observations were made to evaluate environmental respiratory risk factors and indoor housing conditions, including but not limited to, the presence of cockroaches, rodents, pesticides, and visible signs of mold. Spirometry was performed to evaluate lung function using FEV1(forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FVC (forced vital capacity), and FEV1/FVC ratio. Bivariate analysis was applied to evaluate associations between respiratory symptoms and selected indoor environmental risk factors. Findings for respiratory health included prevalence of wheeze (11.4%), coughing up phlegm (17.3%), tightness of chest (16.8%), and runny or stuffy nose (34.4%). Respiratory risks identified inside the dwellings included the use of pesticides or bug sprays for cockroaches (31.5%), rat or mouse poison (19.5%), visible signs of water damage in the bathroom (22.5%), and mold in the sleeping room (11.1%). Spirometry values were normal for most occupants, although statistically significant associations were found between mold and coughing up phlegm when not having a cold (P =.0262); presence of mold and asthma (P =.0084); pesticides used in the home and tightness of chest (P =.0001); and use of tobacco and coughing up phlegm (P =.0131). Although causal inference can be difficult to establish from a cross-sectional study, findings from this study represents suggestive evidence that indoor environmental risk factors may be contributory factors for respiratory health problems among this vulnerable workgroup population. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Farmworker respiratory health Housing Environmental health

Index Keywords

physiology analysis human Respiratory Tract Diseases Air Pollution, Indoor indoor air pollution North Carolina Agriculture housing Animals procedures Hispanic Americans spirometry animal Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Hispanic Adolescent Cockroaches Lung male asthma Socioeconomic Factors cockroach pesticide socioeconomics questionnaire Rodentia Pesticides rodent adult migration Transients and Migrants adverse effects
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84914809714&doi=10.1080%2f1059924X.2014.947458&partnerID=40&md5=90b3d41cbe7529ee1ca366438ae6e52c
DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2014.947458
ISSN: 1059924X
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English