Assessment of the Occupational Health of Greenhouse Workers

The creation of a special environment for the enhancement of plant growth, outside the normal growing season, dates back to 500 B.C. The Gardens of Adonis, in ancient Greece, saw the first application of covering and protective materials to foster the growth and propagation of ornamental flowers. Another historical milestone occurred when Tiberius Caesar instructed his gardeners to provide a supply of cucumbers throughout the entire year (Walls, 1988). History gives credit to the gardener for producing cucumbers in an enclosed structure. However, the physician who prescribed a cucumber each day for Caesar may not be as highly regarded by his contemporaries. The modern greenhouse draws on technology from agricultural and engineering sciences. Elaborate environmental control systems create optimal plant growing conditions in a modern greenhouse. Chemicals are used to enhance or retard plant growth and to combat pest problems. The rapid expansion of the modern greenhouse industry gives rise to concern for the occupational safety and health of greenhouse workers. This study was completed to address the following concerns: • The greenhouse environment presents an unusual ensemble of physical and chemical elements that may be a significant hazard to human health. • The need to safeguard the health of thousands of individuals employed in commercial greenhouses. • The virtual absence of information on greenhouse workers, as such, in the medical literature. METHODS