{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,24]],"date-time":"2026-10-24T03:50:36Z","timestamp":1792813836479,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]],"date-time":"2022-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655424000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Norwegian Program for Capacity Building in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORAD)","award":["1300646-12"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1300646-12"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Pesticide use in Ethiopia has become a common practice in which large-scale flower farms are the main consumers. Workers on flower farms might be exposed to pesticides while spraying or while performing other tasks related to pesticide use and management. It is unclear whether working as a flower farm sprayer is associated with respiratory health problems. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare respiratory symptoms and lung function indices between pesticide sprayers and non-spraying workers. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 15 flower farms, involving all-male sprayers as the pesticide-exposed group and all other male workers as a control group. Data were collected using a standard questionnaire for respiratory symptoms developed by the British Medical Research Council and the American Thoracic Society. Lung function tests were performed to determine forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), mid 50 expiratory flow, and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC. Chi-squared tests and Poisson regression analyses were used to compare respiratory symptoms between the two working groups. General linear regression models were used to compare lung function test indices between spraying and non-spraying working groups. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: A total of 285 male workers participated (152 sprayers and 133 non-spraying workers). The mean age of the workers was 25 years for sprayers and 24 years for non-sprayers. The proportions of cough, cough with sputum, breathlessness, and wheezing were similar in the two groups, while chest tightness was significantly high in the non-spraying group. Sprayers had significantly higher FVC and FEV1 than the non-spraying group. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms were not different between the sprayers and non-spraying workers except that the non-spraying workers had increased chest tightness. FVC and FEV1 were significantly higher among sprayers relative to non-sprayers. The results must be interpreted with caution, as the sprayers used respiratory protective equipment, which probably reduced their exposure to the pesticides. Also, the workers were young, and a healthy worker effect might be present among the sprayers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19127427","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]],"date-time":"2022-06-17T01:48:12Z","timestamp":1655430492000},"page":"7427","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Respiratory Health among Pesticide Sprayers at Flower Farms in Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8967-9261","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Meaza Gezu","family":"Shentema","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Magne","family":"Br\u00e5tveit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Global Public and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abera","family":"Kumie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wakgari","family":"Deressa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0435-3124","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bente Elisabeth","family":"Moen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Global Public and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway"},{"name":"Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"261","article-title":"Lung function and respiratory symptoms of pesticide sprayers in state farms of Ethiopia","volume":"42","author":"Mekonnen","year":"2004","journal-title":"Ethiop. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.1136\/thoraxjnl-2016-208924","article-title":"Occupational pesticide exposure and respiratory health: A large-scale cross-sectional study in three commercial farming systems in Ethiopia","volume":"72","author":"Negatu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Thorax"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210601","DOI":"10.5696\/2156-9614-11.30.210601","article-title":"Environmental and Health Risks of Pesticide Use in Ethiopia","volume":"11","author":"Negatu","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Health Pollut."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1080\/19338244.2013.853645","article-title":"High Prevalence of Respiratory and Dermal Symptoms Among Ethiopian Flower Farm Workers","volume":"70","author":"Hanssen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Arch. Environ. Occup. Health"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shentema, M.G., Kumie, A., Bratveit, M., Deressa, W., Ngowi, A.V., and Moen, B.E. (2020). Pesticide Use and Serum Acetylcholinesterase Levels among Flower Farm Workers in Ethiopia-A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17030964"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2251","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-020-08754-9","article-title":"Occupational exposure to pesticides and associated health effects among greenhouse farm workers","volume":"27","author":"Amoatey","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"839","DOI":"10.1080\/08958370801905524","article-title":"Low Level of Exposure to Pesticides Leads to Lung Dysfunction in Occupationally Exposed Subjects","volume":"20","author":"Casado","year":"2008","journal-title":"Inhal. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6442","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph10126442","article-title":"Occupational pesticide exposures and respiratory health","volume":"10","author":"Ye","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1168","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph10041168","article-title":"Pesticide flow analysis to assess human exposure in greenhouse flower production in Colombia","volume":"10","author":"Binder","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1093\/annweh\/wxx099","article-title":"Differences among Thai Agricultural Workers\u2019 Health, Working Conditions, and Pesticide Use by Farm Type","volume":"62","author":"Kongtip","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann. Work Expo. Health"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.2185\/jrm.2922","article-title":"Pesticide exposure and subjective symptoms of cut-flower farmers","volume":"12","author":"Nagami","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Rural Med."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Seesen, M., Lucchini, R.G., Siriruttanapruk, S., Sapbamrer, R., Hongsibsong, S., Woskie, S., and Kongtip, P. (2020). Association between Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Insulin Resistance in Pesticide Sprayers and Nonfarmworkers. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17218140"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1183\/16000617.00006014","article-title":"Occupational exposure to pesticides and respiratory health","volume":"24","author":"Mamane","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. Respir. Rev."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Sanborn, M., Bassil, K., Vakil, C., Kerr, K., and Rugan, K. (2012). 2012 Systematic Review of Pesticide Health Effects, Ontario College of Family Physician."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1164\/ajrccm.165.5.2106074","article-title":"Chemical Predictors of Wheeze among Farmer Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study","volume":"165","author":"Hoppin","year":"2002","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"64","article-title":"Occupational induced health problems in Floriculture workers in Sebeta and surrounding areas, West Shewa, Oromia Ethiopia","volume":"27","author":"Defar","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ethiop. J. Health Dev."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117817","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2021.117817","article-title":"A review on pesticides in flower production: A push to reduce human exposure and environmental contamination","volume":"289","author":"Pereira","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"America Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Diseases (1978). Recommended Respiratory Disease Questionnaires for Use with Adults and Children in Epidemiological Research, ATS. Available online: https:\/\/citeseerx.ist.psu.edu\/viewdoc\/download?doi=10.1.1.607.2516&rep=rep1&type=pdf."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Medical Research Council\u2019s Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health (2016, June 09). Questionnaire on Respiratory Symptoms. Available online: https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/MRC-291121-QuestionnaireOnRespiratorySymptoms1986.pdf."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1463","DOI":"10.1164\/rccm.201710-1981ST","article-title":"Recommendations for a Standardized Pulmonary Function Report. An Official American Thoracic Society Technical Statement","volume":"196","author":"Culver","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e028150","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2018-028150","article-title":"Rate of normal lung function decline in ageing adults: A systematic review of prospective cohort studies","volume":"9","author":"Thomas","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"985","DOI":"10.1164\/rccm.200508-1344OC","article-title":"Lung function decline and outcomes in an adult population","volume":"173","author":"Mannino","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.1136\/thx.40.6.465","article-title":"Spirometric lung function tests in normal non-smoking Ethiopian men and women","volume":"40","author":"Mengesha","year":"1985","journal-title":"Thorax"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abaya, S.W., Bratveit, M., Deressa, W., Kumie, A., and Moen, B.E. (2018). Reduced Lung Function among Workers in Primary Coffee Processing Factories in Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph15112415"},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (2007). EHPEA Code of Practice for Sustainable Flower Production, Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association. Version 1.0."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.4103\/ijoem.IJOEM_53_16","article-title":"Healthy Worker Effect Phenomenon: Revisited with Emphasis on Statistical Methods\u2014A Review","volume":"21","author":"Chowdhury","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian J. Occup. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1093\/annhyg\/mew004","article-title":"Use of Chemical Pesticides in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Farmers and Farm Workers in Three Farming Systems","volume":"60","author":"Negatu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. Occup. Hyg."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/12\/7427\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T23:33:35Z","timestamp":1760139215000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/12\/7427"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph19127427"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph19127427","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]]}}}