Farming With Celiac

[farmerette]

I am a crop farmer who was diagnosed with Celiac earlier this year as the result of a closed head injury. I am equally intolerant to soybeans as I am gluten. We raise wheat as well as soybeans in all the fields surrounding our house/yard/garden. With the difficult time I had working outside this summer, this question came to mind. What about the pollen from these crops that I breathe as well as get on my skin? What about the fine particles of ground up plant parts of these crops that the combining process puts airborne that I breathe? Are these dangerous to me? I have not been able to get any answers

[MaryJones2]

Hi Farmerette,

As far as I know there is only one study relating to inhaled gluten. I know we have several members who are farmers or live in farming communities so hopefully someone else can answer your more specific questions.

Non-Responsive Celiac Disease due to Inhaled Gluten

Brief: This study evaluated two patients who had nonresponsive celiac disease after having been on a gluten free diet. Both patients still showed chronic symptoms and histological changes from celiac but had adhered to a strictly gluten-free diet. Both patients worked on farms where they feed gluten-containing grain to livestock on a daily basis and were likely inhaling dust particles with gluten in them, thereby aggravating their symptoms even when no gluten was being ingested with their diets. Wearing face masks greatly improved symptoms and histological results for both patients.

[kenlove]

I grow fruit crops so I dont have the problem that you do but I do get sick from inhaling flour and dust from gluten containing grains. You could try some good face masks if you have to out in the field. They seem to work for me in restaurant kitchens I have to visit at times. Out in the field is another story. I did stop using one type of fertilizer that had wheat meal in it.

Make sure you check the ingredients on what you use.

good luck

ken

I am a crop farmer who was diagnosed with Celiac earlier this year as the result of a closed head injury. I am equally intolerant to soybeans as I am gluten. We raise wheat as well as soybeans in all the fields surrounding our house/yard/garden. With the difficult time I had working outside this summer, this question came to mind. What about the pollen from these crops that I breathe as well as get on my skin? What about the fine particles of ground up plant parts of these crops that the combining process puts airborne that I breathe? Are these dangerous to me? I have not been able to get any answers

[cyberprof]

I have horses and chickens. Their feed contains wheat, rye, barley, oats.

So I wear a dust mask and am very careful. I wash my hands after taking off my barn jacket and gloves and I'm careful not to touch my mouth or nose.

I'm still worried about it...

If you are out in the fields a lot, that would be a problem in my mind.

[Dunnyveg]

 

I am a crop farmer who was diagnosed with Celiac earlier this year as the result of a closed head injury. I am equally intolerant to soybeans as I am gluten. We raise wheat as well as soybeans in all the fields surrounding our house/yard/garden. With the difficult time I had working outside this summer, this question came to mind. What about the pollen from these crops that I breathe as well as get on my skin? What about the fine particles of ground up plant parts of these crops that the combining process puts airborne that I breathe? Are these dangerous to me? I have not been able to get any answers

Farmerette, thank you so much.  As a kid I worked a summer on my great uncle's farm in the northern Midwest; he raised rye and wheat.  Having run the combine, I can tell you that grain generates a lot of dust that can't be healthy in large amounts even for normal people.  

Since I was feeling so well a few weeks ago, and now feel as badly as I ever did, I'd recommend you find other crops to grow if possible.