The Mersin Greenhouse Workers Study. Surveillance of Work-related Skin, Respiratory, and Musculoskeletal Diseases

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.