Heartland Center for Occupational Safety and Health

CONTEXT: Crash fatality and injury rates are higher on rural roadways than other roadway types. Although slow-moving farm vehicles and equipment are risk factors on rural roads, little is known about the characteristics of crashes with farm vehicles/equipment. PURPOSE: To describe crashes and injuries for the drivers of farm vehicles/equipment and non-farm vehicles involved in an injury crash. Passengers are not included in this analysis. METHODS: Injury crashes were included that involved a farm vehicle/equipment and at least one non-farm vehicle reported in Iowa Department of Transportation crash data from 1995 to 2004. Odds ratios were calculated through logistic regression to identify increased odds for injury among drivers of non-farm vehicles and farm vehicles/equipment. We examined frequently occurring crash characteristics to identify crash scenarios leading to the highest odds for injury. FINDINGS: Non-farm vehicle drivers were 5.23 times more likely to be injured than farm vehicle/equipment drivers (95% CI = 4.12-6.46). The absence of restraint use was a significant predictor of injury for both farm vehicle/equipment drivers (OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.14-7.13) and non-farm vehicle drivers (OR = 2.53; 95% CI = 1.54-4.15). Crash characteristics increasing the odds of injury for non-farm vehicle drivers included speeding, passing the farm vehicle/equipment, driving on a county road, having a frontal impact collision, and crashing in darkness. Ejection was the strongest predictor of injury for the farm vehicle/equipment driver. CONCLUSION: Non-farm vehicle drivers were much more likely to be injured than farm vehicle/equipment drivers, suggesting that farm vehicle/equipment crash prevention should be a priority for all rural road users. Prevention strategies that reduce motor vehicle speed, assist in safe passing, increase seat belt use, and increase conspicuousness of the farm vehicle/equipment are suggested.

ABSTRACT With the transition to increasingly larger swine production facilities, nearby residents have voiced concerns about environmental contamination, odor, and adverse health effects. The goal of this study was to evaluate outdoor airborne concentrations of ammonia, dust, and endotoxin in the environment near four types of swine production facilities and one control farm with no livestock. Dust and endotoxin were detected at a distance of 60 meters outside of facilities but generally, concentrations were below limits of accu-rate detection. The mean (and standard deviation) for outdoor am-monia concentrations were: 0.251 (0.064) ppm-large confinement; 0.086 (0.091) ppm-medium confinement; 0.214 (0.160) ppm-small confinement; 0.139 (0.188) ppm-small conventional; less than 0.004 ppm-control farm. While the airborne concentrations of ammonia measured outside the production facilities were below current oc-cupational health standards, it is possible that ammonia could be a physical irritant in combination with other exposures, or it could serve as a cue capable of initiating a physical response. Furthermore, ammonia may serve as a surrogate measure for other gases (sulfides) emitted by these facilities.

Background: There is little consensus on the most efficacious vehicle substance for vitamin D supplements. Fat malabsorption may impede the ability of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) to absorb vitamin D in an oil vehicle. We hypothesized that vitamin D contained in a powder vehicle would be absorbed more efficiently than vitamin D contained in an oil vehicle in patients with CF. Methods: In this double‐blind, randomized controlled trial, hospitalized adults with CF were given a one‐time bolus dose of 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol (D 3 ) in a powder‐based or oil‐based vehicle. Serum D 3 , 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, and parathyroid hormone concentrations were analyzed at 0, 12, 24, and 48 hours posttreatment. The area under the curve for serum D 3 and the 12‐hour time point were also assessed as indicators of D 3 absorption. Results: This trial was completed by 15 patients with CF. The median (interquartile range) age, body mass index, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were 23.7 (19.9–33.2) years, 19.9 (18.6–22.6) kg/m 2 , and 63% (37%–80%), respectively. The increase in serum D 3 and the area under the curve was greater in the powder group ( P = .002 and P = .036, respectively). Serum D 3 was higher at 12 hours in the powder group compared with the oil group ( P = .002), although levels were similar between groups by 48 hours. Conclusions: In adults with CF, cholecalciferol is more efficiently absorbed in a powder compared with an oil vehicle. Physicians should consider prescribing vitamin D in a powder vehicle in patients with CF to improve the absorption of vitamin D from supplements.

CONTEXT: The Agricultural Health Study (AHS) is a large, prospective cohort study in the states of Iowa and North Carolina that has been developed to better understand how pesticides and other agricultural exposures relate to the occurrence of cancer and other diseases. PURPOSE: This report compares the characteristics of AHS farmers to the Census of Agriculture to evaluate the generalizability of AHS findings. METHODS: We restricted the AHS to private pesticide applicators who enrolled in Iowa (n = 31,065) and in North Carolina (n = 17,239) between 1993 and 1997, and who identified themselves as living or working on a farm. We compared their self-reported data with data from the 1992 and 1997 Censuses of Agriculture. FINDINGS: AHS farmers in Iowa are younger; live or work on larger farms; more frequently apply herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides; and are more likely to raise beef cattle and swine, and grow corn, soybeans, hay, and oats. AHS farmers in North Carolina are also younger, live or work on larger farms, more frequently reported growing crops commonly seen in the state, and are more frequent pesticide users. However, animals raised are similar to those in the North Carolina Census of Agriculture. CONCLUSIONS: AHS farmers likely represent the higher end of pesticide usage in both states in part because AHS farmers have larger farms. Since the health effects of pesticides are best ascertained among pesticide users with the greatest exposure, the AHS cohort should prove to be a valuable resource for health effects research.

Abstract Hoffmann's two‐toed sloths ( Choloepus hoffmanni ) are unique animals popular in zoological settings. The role of vitamin D in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis in this species is unexplored, although disorders of calcium homeostasis have been reported in managed sloths, including urolithiasis and soft tissue mineralization. This study assessed cutaneous concentrations of 7‐dehydrocholesterol (7‐DHC) in nine indoor‐housed Hoffmann's two‐toed sloths, as a means of evaluating the potential for cutaneous photobiosynthesis of vitamin D 3 . Samples were obtained from both abdominal and lumbar regions of the skin to assess for regional variation in 7‐DHC concentration. The average concentration of 7‐DHC in the sloth skin was low (0.197 ± 0.02 nmol/cm 2 ). Location had a significant effect on 7‐DHC level only when concentrations were expressed based on the wet weight of the sample (ng/g), but levels were similar when values were normalized to biopsy surface area (nmol/cm 2 ).

Asymptomatic carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is an important risk factor for developing infection, as well as a key contributor to transmission. Despite the fact that childcare workers are at known risk for infections, little research has focused on bacterial carriage in this occupational group. We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing the prevalence of S. aureus in 110 childcare employees with the prevalence in 111 unexposed participants. Questionnaire data was collected for employees, unexposed adults, and children. Multivariate analysis allowed for adjustment for confounders. Data on work-related exposures are presented as well. The prevalence of S. aureus in employees, unexposed adults, children, and on surfaces was 35·2%, 33·6%, 19·8%, and 9·8%, respectively. Washing children's hands upon their arrival at childcare facilities may decrease the risk of S. aureus carriage in employees (odds ratio 0·17, 95% confidence interval 0·095–0·32, P < 0·0001).

Purpose: Community colleges are academic institutions that often prepare students in associate degree programs such as agricultural sciences. The program develops students for many professional careers in the industry of agriculture; however, many students have prior exposure to working in farming through personal experience. Through these experiences, each student has formulated their own viewpoints on safety and protection against common hazards in farming. Agriculture is a high-risk occupation and needs to have a safety program implemented. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information on concerns among young farmers. One portion of the college program is to enhance safety practices by supplying additional information on safety and health issues. Following the program, we wanted to understand what students’ perspectives were regarding safety issues and protection on the farm.Methods: A written survey of eight questions was distributed to students at Kirkwood Community College attending an agricultural safety and health program. Survey items asked about students’ greatest health and safety concerns on the farm, kinds of resources that would help students better manage these concerns, and preferred sources of farm health and safety information on these or other concerns. These responses were compared those of 540 farmers in the region.Findings: Primary concerns identified by students included chemical safety, grain bin engulfment, and adverse chronic health outcomes such as hearing loss or skin cancer. Additionally, training and safety equipment were the primary resources recognized to help better manage these concerns. Lastly, the preferred source for health and safety information on these or other concerns was 4-H and FFA.Practical Application: Information collected in this survey differed from previous non-student surveys. This indicates young farmers’ concerns for safety and health may differ from older farmers.