Particulate Matter in Equestrian Stables and Riding Arenas

Claußen, Gesche; Hessel, Engel F.

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2017.04.004

Cited by 14 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Irrespective of the material applied as bedding in the stable, the authors revealed a significant increase of the airborne particle concentration during cleaning the stable, especially when the straw was used. As reported by Clauβen and Hessel (2017), the lowest concentrations for both bioaerosol and PM were detected when the boxes were thoroughly cleaned from the straw and excrement on a daily basis. Higher concentrations were obtained when additional straw layers were added and feces were not removed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Bacterial aerosol, particulate matter, and microclimatic parameters in the horse stables in Poland

Grzyb

Podstawski

Bulski

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Keeping horses in good condition requires providing them with living conditions that meet welfare requirements. These animals should be accommodated with suitable space, access to high nutritional fodder and water, and a suitable microclimate in their shelters. When it comes to the environment in the stables, a serious problem is created by particulate matter (PM), which consists of bacteria. PM concentration may be responsible for developing multiple lower respiratory tract diseases in horses, including allergies and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). In turn, these ailments may lead to decreasing equine physical and mental fitness. Additionally, people who spend time in the stables are exposed to the same harmful factors. The study was conducted in Udórz Stud Farm located in the southern region of Poland. The study was carried out in 2 different types of stables: 3 runners (a type of stable where horses are housed together and occasionally linked up, e.g., for feeding or grooming) and 2 box stables. The research continued for 2 years and the samples were collected in each season. The bioaerosol samples were collected using a six-stage Andersen-Graseby cascade impactor to assess size distribution and concentrations of airborne bacteria. PM concentration was analyzed using the DustTrak™ II Aerosol Monitor 8530, while microclimate parameters were measured using the Kestrel 5000 Weather Meter. There are almost no studies concerning size distribution of airborne bacteria, individual PM fractions, and the impact of everyday handling on the changes in the bioaerosol and PM concentration. This preliminary study provided basic information on this subject. We have revealed a strong correlation between high PM and bacterial aerosol concentrations. Higher contamination levels were recorded in runners, as compared to box stables. The highest bacterial aerosol level was detected in the spring. The analysis of the fractions of the bacterial aerosol in the stables indicated the highest share of ultra-fine fraction (0.65–2.1 µm), while respirable fraction (below 4.7 µm) exceeded 75%. It was established that the concentration of the bacterial aerosol inside the stables was many times higher than outside. It depended significantly on everyday activities undertaken in the stables, like feeding or cleaning. Taking the above into account, a different cleaning system should be developed (a wet cleaning system, with the use of water) and excrement should be removed more frequently.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Bacterial aerosol, particulate matter, and microclimatic parameters in the horse stables in Poland

Grzyb

Podstawski

Bulski

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Respondents consistently reported safety concerns that included temperature, moisture/humidity, dust, and airflow. We expected this finding to vary by climate, as the moisture content of arena surfaces affects air contaminants, with wet footing materials having lower airborne dust liberation [ 10 ]. Conversely, higher moisture combined with lower ventilation, as measured by air exchange rates, previously resulted in greater mold and bioaerosol contaminates in equestrian microenvironments [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our survey indicated that EAS programs are offered year-round. Because the ambient temperature and humidity impact equestrian microenvironment air quality [ 10 , 18 , 34 ], the use of fans needs to be considered along with activity and season of activity offering. In mixed-humid climates and cold/very cold climate facilities, there are over 100 volunteers annually interacting in these spaces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Arenas can consist of fully indoor spaces (roof, four walls, and openings that can be closed; called “indoor arenas”), partial indoor spaces (roof and partial side walls; called “covered arenas”), or flat and open spaces (no structure such as a roof or sidewalls; called “outdoor arenas”). The arena also differs from the barn in that the main floor surface (known as “footing”) is specially constructed of materials that maximize horse welfare [ 9 , 10 ]. Indoor arenas may or may not incorporate mechanical ventilation systems [ 11 ], thus air quality can vary based on the type of ventilation [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Framing Future of Work Considerations through Climate and Built Environment Assessment of Volunteer Work Practices in the United States Equine Assisted Services

Tumlin

Liu

Park

2021

IJERPH

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The foundation of healthy workplace design is an understanding of work practices. Volunteers comprise the majority of the workforce in care centers using horses to address human health issues. Documentation is lacking on protections for worker well-being in equestrian microenvironments which are known to have the potential for dust exposures. Climate acts as a master variable in equestrian facility design and ventilation usage to address dust and temperature concerns. Using climate as an independent variable, our objective was to characterize space usage, safety, environmental control, and organizational practices through a national survey of equine assisted programs. We found that more fully enclosed indoor arena spaces were in cold/very cold and mixed-humid climates (p = 0.0114). Annually more volunteers (p = 0.0073) work in these two climate groups averaging 100 volunteers per location. A total of 34% of all facilities, regardless of climate, do not use mechanical ventilation systems (e.g., fans). As volunteer worker time in the arena increased, time in the barn microenvironment tended to decrease (p = 0.0538). We identified facility designs, ventilation usage, and worker arrangements to refine the scalability of future air contaminant monitoring and to provide frameworks for education, workplace design, and prevention of exposure to dust.

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“…Given that occupational cancer is the leading cause of work-related deaths in the EU [22], further research is required to characterise RCS exposures and other potential airborne hazards created as a result of the use of different footing materials and additives including, for example, recycled textiles and synthetic carpets [23] in equestrian arenas. As exposure to mixed organic dusts, capable of inducing inflammatory reactions in the respiratory system, are common in many agricultural settings, including horse stables [6,24], future research should also include endotoxin and β (1→3)-glucan measurements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Exposures in an Equestrian Centre to Respirable Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica

Bulfin

Cowie

Galea

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Sand-based products are regularly used as footing material on indoor equestrian arenas, creating a potential occupational exposure risk for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) for equestrian workers training and exercising horses in these environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate an equestrian worker’s personal RCS and respirable dust (RD) exposure. Sixteen personal full-shift RD measurements were collected from an equestrian worker and analysed for RD, quartz and cristobalite. Geometric mean exposures of 0.12 mg m−3 and 0.02 mg m−3 were calculated for RD and RCS concentrations, respectively. RCS exposures of between 0.01 to 0.09 mg m−3 were measured on days when the indoor arena surface was not watered, compared to lower exposures (<LOD-0.03 mg m−3) on days when the indoor arena was watered (p < 0.01); however, manual watering is time intensive and less likely to be implemented in practice. This small-scale study provides new data on RCS and RD exposures among equestrian workers. RCS exposures are within the range considered to be associated with increased risk for lung cancer. The use of dust control solutions such as water suppression should be promoted for equestrian work in horse riding arenas. Equestrian workers need to receive occupational health training on the health risks associated with RCS exposure.

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Particulate Matter in Equestrian Stables and Riding Arenas

Cited by 14 publications

References 31 publications

Bacterial aerosol, particulate matter, and microclimatic parameters in the horse stables in Poland

Bacterial aerosol, particulate matter, and microclimatic parameters in the horse stables in Poland

Framing Future of Work Considerations through Climate and Built Environment Assessment of Volunteer Work Practices in the United States Equine Assisted Services

Occupational Exposures in an Equestrian Centre to Respirable Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica

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