The worker microbiome and envirobiomes in the agriculture industry: a narrative review of current applications and understanding for worker health

Abstract

Background and Objective: The human microbiome is recognized as essential for the maintenance of human health, but research suggests that chemical and biological [e.g., viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)] exposures can elicit perturbations in the human microbiome communities. As demonstrated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the occupational environment impacts worker health in numerous ways, one of which may be through changes to the worker microbiome. Particularly, the agricultural environment presents both chemical and biological hazards (i.e., workplace environmental microbiome or envirobiome) that may affect the worker microbiome and ultimately worker health. The state of the science regarding the potential for the agricultural environment to impact worker microbiomes is presented herein.