Exposure of female farmers to dust on family farms

Studies of dust on farms conducted to date, both in Poland and abroad, concern only health risk due to dust while performing selected occupations. The present study is a subsequent attempt to determine the year-round exposure to dust at workplaces in agriculture, and covers the workplace of a private farmer which is typical of Polish agriculture: a female farmer who is running a family farm together with her husband. Studies conducted on 10 mixed production family farms showed that women actively participate in farm activities. The occupations performed by women focus around the household - mainly the care of animals; whereas their field work consists primarily of manual jobs associated with crop cultivation, as well as auxiliary activities during harvest. Although the level of exposure to dust determined for female farmers remains statistically within the range of allowable conditions, this factor should be considered as an important health risk due to its high concentrations and pathogenic components.