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Utilization of masks by Hutterite farmers
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, USD School of Medicine, Vermillion.
South Dakota Journal of Medicine
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Farmers who wear masks reported more respiratory symptoms like cough and wheezing, and higher rates of asthma and hayfever, suggesting mask use may correlate with pre-existing conditions or farming exposures.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Farming involves exposure to dusts, allergens, and irritants.
- Mask use is a common protective measure for farmers.
- The impact of mask usage on respiratory health in agricultural settings requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare respiratory symptomatology and pulmonary function between mask-wearing and non-mask-wearing farmers.
- To identify potential associations between mask use and respiratory conditions in an agricultural community.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 199 male Hutterite mask users and 159 non-users.
- Evaluation of respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, wheezing, breathlessness, fever) and allergic conditions (hayfever, asthma).
- Comparison of pulmonary function tests and anthropometric data between the two groups.
Main Results:
- Pulmonary function and anthropometrics were comparable between mask-wearing and non-mask-wearing groups.
- Mask wearers exhibited higher prevalence of cough, phlegm, wheezing, breathlessness, and fever.
- Significantly greater prevalence of hayfever (p<0.02) and asthma (p<0.001) was observed in mask wearers.
Conclusions:
- Farmers experiencing more respiratory symptoms due to farming are more likely to adopt mask usage.
- Mask use in this cohort was associated with a higher incidence of respiratory symptoms and allergic diseases.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the causal relationship between mask use, farming exposures, and respiratory health outcomes.