BRANDON (Staff) –ÊFarmers routinely expose themselves to higher levels of dust and contaminated air than is legally allowed in industry, says a Winnipeg doctor specializing in respiratory diseases.
“Farming is a dusty industry,” Dr. Peter Warren told farmers attending Manitoba Ag Days here.
Warren said farmers are at risk of developing respiratory ailments from allergic reactions to dust, spores and moulds and insects associated with grain and livestock operations.
Most farmers suffer only “nuisance” reactions –Êshort-term coughs and flu-like symptoms which go away in a few days.
That’s no reason not to take precautions, Warren said. Long-term exposure can lead to chronic, life threatening conditions such as asthma and farmer’s lung.
Farmers attending the event had the opportunity to test their lung capacity at a display by the Manitoba Lung Association. The test gave participants a measure of how their lungs performed against the average for people of the same height and age.
