THINK PINK

Healthy Lungs

Healthy human lungAmerican Assoc. of Respiratory Care

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.

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

20x50ft. pool

300sq.ft.dingy

Our Lungs

• Link to life -giving oxygen supply to our body• Every cell in our body needs a constant

supply of oxygen

Breathe 6 litres of air a minute at rest

Increases to 75 litres per minute with heavy exercise

8 hr work day/moderate activity - breathe as much as 300 cubic feet

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

Occupational Lung Hazards

Lung hazards come in many forms

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.

Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture

Lung cancer

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (Lung) Disease- emphysema, bronchitis

Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS)-Common lung illness

Farmer’s Lung-allergic reaction

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.

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.

Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture

Respiratory Diseases in Agriculture

Occupational asthma Asphyxiation

(gas/fumes in lungs)

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.

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.

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.

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

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 

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

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

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.

Annual Lung Function Tests (Who should )

Grain

Industry

Workers

Dairy farmers

Workers in livestock confinement buildings

Workers who smoke

People with history of bronchitis, asthma or frequent lung infections

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.

Occupational Lung Health Monitoring

Questionnaires

Chest x-raysLung function tests (spirometry)

‘Fitness to wear’ respirator testing

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

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