Table 4

Odds ratios for current rhinitis and current farm-related exposures among 2245 commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

ExposureCurrent rhinitis(n = 1664),n (% exposed)No current rhinitis(n = 581),n (% exposed)OR* (95% CI)
Animal exposures
    Working in swine areas262 (16)70 (12)1.23 (0.91 to 1.66)
    Working in poultry areas39 (2)9 (2)1.57 (0.74 to 3.34)
    Beef cattle195 (12)66 (11)1.00 (0.73 to 1.38)
    Dairy cattle32 (2)8 (1)1.28 (0.57 to 2.88)
    Hogs191 (12)59 (10)1.07 (0.77 to 1.49)
    Sheep41 (3)11 (2)1.30 (0.65 to 2.59)
    Butchering animals235 (14)45 (8)1.77 (1.25 to 2.49)
    Veterinary services269 (16)84 (15)1.11 (0.84 to 1.48)
Grain exposures
    Handling stored grain745 (45)235 (40)1.19 (0.97 to 1.47)
    Handling stored hay434 (26)121 (21)1.18 (0.92 to 1.51)
    Grinding animal feed370 (22)113 (19)1.14 (0.88 to 1.47)
    Loading or unloading silage136 (8)41 (7)1.04 (0.71 to 1.52)
Corn production
    Field corn369 (22)131 (23)0.99 (0.77 to 1.26)
    Seed corn38 (2)15 (3)0.83 (0.44 to 1.55)
    Sweet corn70 (4)15 (3)1.55 (0.87 to 2.78)
    Popcorn19 (1)8 (1)0.82 (0.35 to 1.93)
Other crops
    Alfalfa145 (9)39 (7)1.35 (0.92 to 1.98)
    Hay164 (10)45 (8)1.34 (0.93 to 1.93)
    Oats122 (7)33 (6)1.25 (0.83 to 1.90)
    Soybeans318 (19)123 (21)0.89 (0.69 to 1.14)
Maintenance activities
    Repairing engines710 (43)200 (34)1.30 (1.06 to 1.60)
    Welding898 (54)258 (44)1.39 (1.14 to 1.71)
    Painting1205 (72)348 (60)1.56 (1.27 to 1.92)
    Replacing asbestos brake linings232 (14)66 (11)1.26 (0.93 to 1.70)
  • *Odds ratios were adjusted for age, education status and growing up on a farm.