Multiple Exposures and Coexposures to Occupational Hazards Among Agricultural Workers A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Thi-Hai-Yen Nguyen (1, 2) , Mélanie Bertin (2) , Julie Bodin (2) , Natacha Fouquet (3, 2) , N. Bonvallot (4, 5) , Yves Roquelaure (2)

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy (VIETNAM)
2 IRSET-ESTER - Épidémiologie en Santé au Travail et Ergonomie
3 Santé publique France - French National Public Health Agency [Saint-Maurice, France]
4 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail
5 EHESP - École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP]

BackgroundWorkers may be exposed to various types of occupational hazards at the same time, potentially increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. The aim of this review was to analyze the effects of multiple occupational exposures and coexposures to chemical, biomechanical, and physical hazards on adverse health outcomes among agricultural workers.MethodsArticles published in English between 1990 and 2015 were identified using five popular databases and two complementary sources. The quality of the included publications was assessed using the methodology developed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool for quantitative studies.ResultsFifteen articles were included in the review. Multiple chemical exposures were significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases, cancer, and DNA and cytogenetic damage. Multiple physical exposures seemed to increase the risk of hearing loss, whereas coexposures to physical and biomechanical hazards were associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders among agricultural workers.ConclusionFew studies have explored the impact of multiple occupational exposures on the health of agricultural workers. A very limited number of studies have investigated the effect of coexposures among biomechanical, physical, and chemical hazards on occupational health, which indicates a need for further research in this area.

Keywords: Multiple exposures; Occupational hazards; Agricultural workers; Coexposures; Systematic Review

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Health

Thi-Hai-Yen Nguyen, Mélanie Bertin, Julie Bodin, Natacha Fouquet, N. Bonvallot, et al.. Multiple Exposures and Coexposures to Occupational Hazards Among Agricultural Workers A Systematic Review of Observational Studies. Safety and Health at Work, 2018, 9 (3), pp.239-248. ⟨10.1016/j.shaw.2018.04.002⟩. ⟨hal-01870286⟩