THINK PINK

1. THINK PINK

2. Healthy Lungs American Assoc. of Respiratory Care Healthy human lung

3. Our Environment Our lungs are susceptible to damage caused by inhaled toxic materials and irritants because the surface area of our lungs exposed to air is so large and body’s need for oxygen so great.

4. Did you know? • Our lungs have the greatest exposure to air of any body part. • Surface area of 300 square feet at rest (skin only 20 square feet) • Up to 1000 square feet during a • deep breath 300sq.ft.dingy 20x50ft. pool

5. Our Lungs • Link to life -giving oxygen supply to our body • Every cell in our body needs a constant • supply of oxygen Increases to 75 litres per minute with heavy exercise Breathe 6 litres of air a minute at rest 8 hr work day/moderate activity - breathe as much as 300 cubic feet

6. Respiratory system • Respiratory system: • Natural mechanisms to protect lungs against airborne hazards • Prevents all but the smallest respirable particles from reaching the alveoli • Working hard sometimes bypass part of filtering system by breathing through mouth

7. Occupational Lung Hazards • Lung hazards come in many forms

8. Agriculture • Workers exposed to variety of environmental hazards- potentially harmful to health & well-being • Considered one of most hazardous occupations • Organic dusts & toxic gases constitute some of: • Most common & potentially disabling hazards • Can affect all parts of respiratory system-nose to deepest parts of lungs---causing increased rates of respiratory diseases Changing patterns of agriculture have paradoxically contributed to both improved working conditions and increased exposure to respiratory hazards.

9. Lung cancer Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (Lung) Disease- emphysema, bronchitis Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS)- Common lung illness Farmer’s Lung-allergic reaction

10. Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture • Exposure to hazards in agriculture: • Linked to excessive coughing & congestion in 20 - 90 % of farm workers & families. • Symptoms of chronic bronchitis - observed in as many as 50% of swine confinement workers & grain handlers. • Chronic (long term) diseases like bronchitis and emphysema develop due to repeated irritation. • Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS): • common respiratory illness (short term) that resembles Farmer’s Lung- is often mistaken for the flu. • Farmer's Lung: (less common than ODTS) • An allergic reaction caused by inhaling dust from moldy hay, straw, and grain. Dairy and grain farmers are the most common victims. Farmer’s Lung can be acute and develop to a chronic condition.

11. Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture • Times when moldy crops are handled indoors are the most dangerous. • For those who are susceptible, repeated exposure damages lung tissue, causing shortness of breath and a growing inability to perform strenuous work. Victims eventually may find it a struggle even to get out of a chair. • Smoking has the multiplier effect on the lungs with other irritants that can lead to the development of lung cancer. • Sometimes, substances may affect our lungs for some time before signs of disease are noticed. This is another reason farmers need to be aware of the potentially harmful substances found on the farm.

12. Occupational asthma Asphyxiation (gas/fumes in lungs) Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture

13. Respiratory Disease in Agriculture • Some illnesses are chronic. The disease lasts for a long time or lifetime. Eg. Occupational asthma in grain workers. • Occupational asthma • one study in Sask. found that 27% of farmers presented with a wheeze (marker for asthma) compared to 10 % of non-farmers • May develop when become sensitized to allergens such as grain dust, mold, storage mites or farm chemicals. • Usually new but can occur in people who already have had asthma. • Some respiratory diseases are acute. When a person breathes a harmful substance and becomes ill, they either recover completely or die, such as after breathing in silo gas. • Asphyxiation- overcome by fumes/ gases that replace oxygen content.

14. Respiratory Illnesses and Syndromes • Agricultural respiratory conditions tend to have an overlapping spectrum. This is a diagram reflecting respiratory disease in swine confinement workers. (Adapted from Von Essen and Donham.

15. Respiratory Illnesses & Syndromes • Respiratory symptoms from agricultural exposures are often nonspecific & mistaken for common viral or bacterial respiratory infections. • A careful occupational history is important to get the proper diagnosis. • Soluble gases such as ammonia are normally absorbed into mucous membranes of the upper airways but when they are absorbed onto dust particles, they can penetrate further into the lower respiratory tract than just the gases alone. • Since gases & dusts usually occur together in agricultural environments, it is hard to tell the adverse effects apart.

16. Lung Facts • One in five Canadians (six million) have a breathing problem • More than 2.8 million Canadians have asthma: • 330,000 cases are Occupational Asthma (OA) (Many of these cases are directly related to workers in Swine and Poultry confinement buildings) • Asthma is #1 reason for absence from work/school

17. Lung Facts • Lung disorders are the number one cause of short term disability • >750,000 Canadians have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • 4th leading cause of death (2004) • 13% of all hospitalizations • Only half diagnosed & treated • Decreased quality of life for patients with COPD • High health service resource use & economic burden to society

18. Prevention • Engineering controls • Ventilation: mechanical recommended- better control • Methods of controlling dust generation such as mist, oil to feed, on animals, wet cleaning of surfaces • Use of leak proof manure storage outdoors • Monitoring of gas concentrations • Personal protective respiratory devices (NIOSH approved)- additional safeguards • Respiratory surveillance • Baseline lung function test and chest x-ray • Early recognition of exposure sources and symptoms

19. Respiratory Surveillance • Employment setting where workers use or are potentially exposed to lung hazards should have medical surveillance • Reduce human & economic toll • Lung disease- most significant due to severity • Significant causes of morbidity, disability, early retirement & death • Preventable once causes recognized • HIGH PRIORITY: Recognition of Occupational Lung Disease hazards & prevention of exposure

20. Monitoring your Lung Health • A pulmonary (lung) function test involves breathing into a spirometer. This simple, painless test provides data on lung volume and ability to breathe.

21. Annual Lung Function Tests (Who should ) • Grain • Industry • Workers Workers in livestock confinement buildings People with history of bronchitis, asthma or frequent lung infections Workers who smoke Dairy farmers

22. THE LUNG ASSOCIATION, Manitoba • OCCUPATIONAL LUNG HEALTH • Monitoring Program • Perform lung health screening • Prevention & early detection • On-site or office appointments • Medical surveillance & reports • Lung health trending • Retention of health records for 40 years • The Lung Association of Manitoba offers the only mobile lung monitoring program in Manitoba.

23. Occupational Lung Health Monitoring • ‘Fitness to wear’ respirator testing Questionnaires • Lung function tests (spirometry) Chest x-rays

24. THE LUNG ASSOCIATION, Manitoba • THE SANATORIUM BOARD -1904 • (Tuberculosis Control) • THE LUNG ASSOCIATION, MANITOBA • (Non-profit charitable division of The Sanatorium Board established in1975 to focus on all respiratory disorders and disease in MB) • MISSION: • To improve lung health of Manitobans

25. For more information contact: • Winnipeg: (204) 774-5501 • Brandon: (204) 725-4230 • Toll free:1-888-566-5864 • info@mb.lung.ca • WEBSITE: www.mb.lung.ca