A Task-Specific Assessment of Swine Worker Exposure to Airborne Dust

Abstract

A task-based analysis of personal airborne dust exposures was performed in two swine confinement facilities used to house sows and their litters. Airborne particulate levels were assessed during summer, winter, and spring. Personal aerosol measurements of workers were made with a photometer every 15 sec and corrected to compare with an integrated concentration measurement made with a co-located IOM inhalable dust sampler. Task type and time period were recorded by the workers over an 8-hr work shift. There was a significant difference in dust concentrations between seasons (p < 0.001), with winter months providing the highest levels (geometric mean = 3.76 mg/m(3)). The application of a general linear model of log-transformed task concentrations relative to site, season, and task demonstrated significant differences (P < 0.001) among all three covariates. Tasks performed near moving animals, especially the weaning process, resulted in the greatest concentrations. These results indicate the need to evaluate the concentration levels for separate tasks during multi-task work shifts, such as swine rearing, to optimize efforts to minimize exposures by focusing on high-concentration tasks.

A comprehensive review of levels and determinants of personal exposure to dust and endotoxin in livestock farming

“…In total, results from 21 studies were included, all except one being part of the search results on personal levels of exposure. 26,95,100,[102][103][104]106,109,110,[112][113][114][118][119][120]123,[126][127][128][129][130] PERSONAL LEVELS OF EXPOSURE Of the 41 identified studies, 16 were on pig farmers, 16,[95][96][97]101,103,106,109,110,113,114,116,117,123,125,129 7 on poultry farmers 98,100,104,107,118,120,127 and 9 on cattle farmers, 90,92,94,99,105,…”

“…This was true even when looking separately for studies on the inhalable and total particle size fractions, or when restricting the sample to studies with adequate methodological descriptions. 12,26,90,92,95,97,98,104,105,[113][114][115]117,[119][120][121][122][123]127,128 In addition, as recently discussed by Eduard et al, 61 the absence of standardization and reproducibility in measurement methods between studies affects the comparability of the results of epidemiological studies and, subsequently, also the establishment of legal OELs, especially in relation to endotoxin exposure.…”

“…An assessment of the effect of potential determinants on exposure to organic dust was always included, whereas investigations on potential determinants for endotoxin were included in 15 studies. 26,95,100,104,106,[112][113][114][118][119][120]123,[128][129][130] Ten of the studies focused on pig farmers, 95,102,103,106,109,110,113,114,123,129 five on poultry farmers, 100,104,118,120,127 four on dairy farmers 119,126,128,130 and two included more than one type of farmers. 26,112 The basic design characteristics, the method of analysis and the main findings of the included studies are summarized in Table 4.…”

Individual and occupational characteristics associated with respiratory symptoms among latino horse farm workers

“…Barn ventilation levels, season, and horse bedding materials may also affect exposure, with higher ventilation, more common in warmer months, lowering airborne respirable particles [Curtis et al, 1996;Elfman et al, 2009;Wålinder at al., 2011], and paper bedding decreasing exposures relative to straw bedding [Curtis et al, 1996]. Work procedures conducted close to livestock may also increase exposure to respiratory hazards [O'Shaughnessy et al, 2010]. Outside of the barn, horse worker exposure to respiratory hazards may be high as well.…”

A Biophysiochemical Analysis of Settled Livestock and Poultry Housing Dusts

“…Grain dusts contribute heavily to agricultural dust composition among swine, dairy and poultry farms (Donham et al, 2002;Lee et al, 2006). It is well established that occupational exposure to agricultural dusts is a risk factor for respiratory dysfunction in swine and poultry facility workers chronically exposed to dust consisting of feed particles, bacterial endotoxin, gases and other components (O'Shaughnessy et al, 2010;Viegas et al, 2013). Bioaerosols, volatile compounds, gases and inorganic compounds including alcohols, aromatics and nitrogenrelated contribute to animal production dust complexity (Plummer et al, 2009;Chmielowiec-Korzeniowska, 2009;Hamon et al, 2012).…”