Ministry of Health, Mersin Public Health Directorate, Mersin, TR.
Ministry of Health, Mardin Public Health Directorate, Mardin, TR.
Ann Glob Health. 2018 Aug 31;84(3):504-511. doi: 10.29024/aogh.2315.
Skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers are frequently observed due to exposure to plant products and pesticides in enclosed conditions and ergonomic risks. Current studies on occupational health risks of greenhouse workers in Turkey are insufficient.
The aim of the present study was to assess work-related skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers in the Erdemli province, Mersin, an area with a workforce predominantly active as greenhouse workers.
The study population consists of adult greenhouse workers, who visited their family physician between June 12-14, 2017 and were diagnosed with dermatological, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases. Immediately after this consultation, occupational physicians conducted face-to-face interviews, asking questions about sociodemographic features and occupational factors including current and previous work, current exposures and relation of current symptoms with work.
In total, 423 workers with 555 diagnoses were included in the study. Percentages of diagnoses were 30.1%, 21.6% and 48.3%, for skin, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases respectively. Nearly half of participants had taken an absence from work due to those diseases. Mean age of onset for greenhouse working was 15.5 years. Almost all participants (96.2%) reported contact with chemicals, and usage of respiratory protection was low (17.3%). Pesticides were regarded as a risk factor by nearly two-thirds of workers with skin or respiratory system disorders. Participants' answers to questions regarding the relationship between their diseases and their work was positive for more than half of patients and patients with skin and respiratory diseases. Nearly half of the patients with musculoskeletal diseases attributed their complaints to physical overload at work.
We found evidence of work-relatedness in almost half of the 555 greenhouse workers with dermatological, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases. These findings are helpful in creating an awareness program. There is a need for a more detailed assessment of the cases and the related working conditions to start a tailored prevention program.
温室工人由于在封闭环境中接触植物产品和农药以及存在人体工程学风险，经常会出现皮肤、呼吸和肌肉骨骼疾病。目前土耳其关于温室工人职业健康风险的研究还不够充分。
本研究旨在评估梅尔辛省埃尔德姆利地区温室工人的与工作相关的皮肤、呼吸和肌肉骨骼疾病，该地区的劳动力主要活跃于温室工作。
研究人群包括 2017 年 6 月 12 日至 14 日期间去家庭医生就诊并被诊断患有皮肤病、呼吸道疾病和肌肉骨骼疾病的成年温室工人。在咨询后，职业医生立即进行面对面访谈，询问有关社会人口特征和职业因素的问题，包括当前和以前的工作、当前暴露情况以及当前症状与工作的关系。
共有 423 名工人，555 例诊断纳入本研究。皮肤、呼吸和肌肉骨骼疾病的诊断百分比分别为 30.1%、21.6%和 48.3%。近一半的参与者因这些疾病缺勤。开始温室工作的平均年龄为 15.5 岁。几乎所有参与者（96.2%）报告接触过化学物质，且呼吸保护装置的使用率很低（17.3%）。近三分之二的有皮肤或呼吸系统疾病的工人认为农药是一个危险因素。超过一半的皮肤和呼吸系统疾病患者对其疾病与工作之间的关系持肯定回答。近一半的肌肉骨骼疾病患者将其投诉归因于工作中的体力超负荷。
我们发现，在 555 名有皮肤、呼吸和肌肉骨骼疾病的温室工人中，近一半的人存在与工作相关的疾病。这些发现有助于开展宣传活动。需要更详细地评估这些病例及其相关工作条件，以启动有针对性的预防计划。
