Chronic obstructive airways disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory illness is a major cause of death in Australia and is more common in farming communities. 

When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.

Most cases of COPD develop after repeatedly breathing in fumes (usually tobacco smoke) and dust that damage the lungs over a long time. Farmers have high rates of COPD despite generally lower rates of smoking, which suggests that on farm exposure to dust, smoke or chemicals may play a key role.