What is farm environmental health?
Environmental health concerns on farms include exposure to toxic gases, pesticides, hazardous agricultural chemicals, high levels of dust, infected animals, parasites, and molds. Exposure to dangerous gases from fermenting crops in silos can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, and even cause death. Repeated exposure to molds on hay or other stored crops can cause “farmer’s lung,” an allergic inflammation of the lungs that can become life-threatening. Exposure to high levels of organic dust can cause Organic Dust Toxicity Syndrome, which causes cough, fever, chills, and muscle pain. Farm animals can be a source of parasites and diseases that can be passed on to people. Pits of animal manure can generate deadly gases, causing oxygen depletion, asphyxiation, and death. Other agricultural health threats include work-related lung diseases, cancers, nasal inflammation, arthritis, asthma, dermatitis, and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis. Web Links from MedlinePlus (National Library o
