In Finland, more and more growers develop health problems such as asthma, rhinitis, and eczema due to working in greenhouses. The Finnish institute for work and health (Arbetshälsoinstitutet) is researching how widespread the problem is and what the exact cause of the complaints are. Tony Stenfors is one of the growers for whom this research is being conducted, albeit too late. He is 44 years old and has worked in greenhouses with pleasure for his entire working life.
In 1999 he started by growing tomatoes in his own greenhouse near the Finnish town of Närpes. Eighteen years later he had to quit working due to health issues. It appears he was allergic to the tomato plants. Every year a few cases of work-related illnesses caused by allergies appear. The fact that many of these cases involve people working in greenhouses is confirmed by Johanna Smith, grower and horticulture ombudsman of the Swedish cooperation of Österbotten, the Swedish speaking area in the west of Finland. Together with her husband - and twelve employees - they grow tomatoes and cherry tomatoes in their 10,000 m2 greenhouse complex all year round. In the last couple of years, five employees grew ill due to allergies caused by working in the greenhouse.
In the context of the research into the cause and symptoms, 150 people working in greenhouses are being monitored. In 2020 the research is planned to finish. As soon as the results are known, countermeasures can be taken in order to improve industrial hygiene and prevent further allergic reactions from occurring.
Source: svenska.yle.fi