How food production affect the farmers health

Agricultural health is the study of environmental, occupational, dietary, and genetic factors on the health of farmers, farm families, pesticide applicators, and others who work with and are exposed to agricultural chemicals.It's true that many types of health problems are associated with traditional farming methods, including falls, skin problems, burns, eye injuries, psychological stress, and musculoskeletal disorders. Historically, farming was never an easy occupation -- it has always taken a toll on farmers' bodies. But modern agricultural machinery and chemicals also subject today's farmers to many new types of health problems, such as machinery-related injuries and deaths, respiratory disorders, certain cancers, neurologic disorders, and hearing loss. The most pervasive of these problems are respiratory issues plus cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
Modern Agriculture and Cancers plus Neurodegenerative Diseases in Farmers
Cancers plus neurodegenerative diseases in farmers are mainly caused by high exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals. Many studies have found that in the long term, pesticides are powerful carcinogens that can cause a wide range of cancers, including: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia (especially childhood leukemia), soft-tissue sarcoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and more . And as neurotoxins, pesticides can cause the following symptoms even in the short term:headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, pupil constriction, plus excessive sweating, tearing and salivation for individuals exhibiting mild cases muscle weakness, muscle twitching, changes in heart rate, lung spasms  (can progress to convulsions and coma) for individuals exhibiting severe cases

 The NIEHS is a partner with the National Cancer Institute in the Agricultural Health Study, a long-term study of 60,000 pesticide applicators, farm workers, and their spouses that is exploring the potential links between agricultural exposures and cancer and other chronic diseases.Despite the evident and complex links between health, nutrition, agriculture, and AKST [Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology], improving human health is not generally an explicit goal of agricultural policy. Agriculture and AKST can affect a range of health issues including undernutrition, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, food safety, and environmental and occupational health. Ill heath in the farming community can in turn reduce agricultural productivity and the ability to develop and deploy appropriate AKST. Ill health can result from undernutrition, as well as over-nutrition.


Health risks for farmers and farmworkers include:

• Exposure to farm chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, as well as toxic gases which may be produced from common farm practices like manure decomposition and silo crop storage
• Exposure to high levels of dust, which can contain mold, bacteria, and animal droppings, among other things

Falls from ladders, farm equipment, grain bins, or other heights

• Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun, which can result in skin cancerJ
• Joint and ligament injuries, which can result in arthritic conditions affecting mobilityE
• Exposure to loud noises and sounds from machinery and equipment which can result in hearing lossS
• Stress from droughts, floods, pests, long hours, financial concerns, and feelings of isolation and frustrationR
• Risk of suffocation in a grain bin if a person is engulfed by the grainR
• Risk of heatstroke, frostbite, or hypothermia from working outside in extreme weather conditionsR
• Risk of injury from operating farm equipment and motorized vehiclesR
• Risk of injury from working with livestockR
• Risk of electrocution to persons operating large equipment that can contact overhead power lines 

Further solutions that could help with farmers' occupational injuries include: preventative education by clinicians; evaluating farm-based safety initiatives and channeling funds into successful ones; and repealing agricultural exemptions from federal laws such as OSHA. If you live in a farming community, write to your local hospitals about implementing preventative injury education designed specifically for farmers, which would reach farmers directly through their primary care providers. You can also donate money to your local farm-based safety initiatives, and write to your local state representatives about funding the most successful farm-based safety initiatives.
Courtesy: Dabiri Titilope  Mary (AEC /15/4496)