Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens among farmers.

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Darcey, E.
    Carey, Renee
    Reid, Alison
    Driscoll, T.
    Glass, D.
    Benke, G.
    Peters, S.
    Fritschi, Lin
    Date
    2018
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Darcey, E. and Carey, R. and Reid, A. and Driscoll, T. and Glass, D. and Benke, G. and Peters, S. et al. 2018. Prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens among farmers.. The International Journal of Rural and Remote Health Research, Education, Practice and Policy. 18 (3).
    Source Title
    The International Journal of Rural and Remote Health Research, Education, Practice and Policy
    DOI
    10.22605/RRH4348
    ISSN
    1445-6354
    School
    School of Public Health
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72187
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    INTRODUCTION: Farmers experience a range of carcinogenic exposures, including some pesticides, fuels, engine exhausts, metals, some organic solvents, silica, wood dusts and solar radiation. However many studies investigating the risk of cancer in farmers focus on pesticide exposure alone. The aim of this study was to determine which carcinogens Australian farmers are exposed to, the prevalence and circumstances of those exposures, and the use of protective equipment. METHODS: The study used data from the Australian Work Exposures Study (AWES) a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012 that investigated the prevalence of carcinogen exposure among Australian workers. This was supplemented with data from AWES-Western Australia (WA), conducted in 2013, which followed the same methodology but in Western Australian workers only. A total of 5498 Australian workers were interviewed about the tasks they carry out in their workplace. The 166 participants who worked in farming (126 men and 40 women, with an age range of 18-65 years) are the focus of this article. RESULTS: On average, farmers had been exposed to five different carcinogens. Highest numbers of exposures occurred among men and those working on mixed crop and livestock farms. Solar radiation, diesel engine exhaust and certain solvents were the most prevalent exposures, each with over 85% of farmers exposed. The main tasks leading to exposure were working outdoors, using and repairing farming equipment and burning waste. Sun protection and closed cabs on machinery were the most frequently used forms of protection. CONCLUSIONS: Farmers are a high risk group in relation to carcinogen exposure. The variation in tasks that they undertake results in exposure to a wide variety of different carcinogens that require similarly varied control measures.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Estimated prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens in Australia (2011-2012)
      Carey, R.; Driscoll, T.; Peters, S.; Glass, D.; Reid, Alison; Benke, G.; Fritschi, Lin (2014)
      Background and objectives: Although past studies of workplace exposures have contributed greatly to our understanding of carcinogens, significant knowledge gaps still exist with regard to the actual extent of exposure ...
    • Prevalence of exposure to multiple occupational carcinogens among exposed workers in Australia.
      McKenzie, Jennifer; El-Zaemey, Sonia ; Carey, Renee (2020)
      © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. OBJECTIVES: Workers can be exposed to a range of different carcinogenic agents in the workplace. However, previous ...
    • The Australian Work Exposures Study: Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
      Driscoll, T.; Carey, Renee; Peters, S.; Glass, D.; Benke, G.; Reid, Alison; Fritschi, Lin (2015)
      INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to produce a population-based estimate of the prevalence of work-related exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to identify the main circumstances of exposure and ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.