DAFFODIL PICKER DIES FROM RARE LUNG DISEASE, INQUEST HEARS
A daffodil picker died from a rare lung disease linked to her work environment, an inquest heard.
Portuguese born Rosa Perestrelo came to the UK to carry out seasonal work picking and processing daffodils in Cornwall in what was described as a 'dusty environment' for 18 years.
An inquest in Truro, Cornwall, heard 52 year old Rosa also went on to pick cabbages for two years and her condition worsened.
Rosa, from Madeira, had begun seasonal work in the UK from 1998 and moved permanently to Cornwall in 2004.
The divorced farm worker was employed in daffodil picking and processing in a 'dusty environment' from 1998 until 2016.
She was described by family as a 'very sociable person, who loved the outdoors and gardening, and was an excellent mother and grandmother'.
Respiratory consultant Dr Benjamin Soar said of her lung disease: 'It is quite a rare condition, the vast majority 90% plus are smoking related.'
He said non smoker Rosa, of Hayle, Cornwall, was exposed to breathing in irritants from the work environment while picking daffodils and cabbages.
Dr Soar said this was 'most likely' because there was 'no other cause for the lung disease'.
He said Rosa suffered a rare reaction to organic and non organic compounds while picking cabbages and chemicals they are treated with.
Rosa was not fit enough to go on the list for a single lung transplant and died in August last year from end stage lung pulmonary fibrosis.
She had been very fit and active but began suffering from a chronic cough for a year and was treated for pulmonary TB.
The assistant coroner Emma Hillson recorded a conclusion of industrial disease.
She said it was more likely than not that Rosa suffered a rare reaction to exposure to organic compounds during her farm work.
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