RESEARCH PAPER
Exposure levels of farmers and veterinarians to particulate matter and gases uring operational tasks in pig-fattening houses
| 1 | Department of Agricultural Engineering, Technology and Food Science Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium |
| 2 | Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium |
| 3 | Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinarian Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium |
| 4 | Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Belgium |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Peter Demeyer
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Technology and Food Science Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Technology and Food Science Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(3):472–478
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The main objective of the study was to assess particulate matter (PM) exposure levels for both the farmer and the veterinarian during different operational tasks in pig-fattening houses, and to estimate their exposure levels on a daily working basis (time-weighted average (TWA)). The measured PM fractions were: inhalable and respirable PM, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.
The effects of pig age, pen floor type (conventional or low emission surface) and cleaning of the pens on the personal PM exposure were also investigated. Indoor concentrations of NH3, CH4, and CO2 were additionally measured during some operational tasks. The results showed that personal exposure levels can become extremely high during some operational tasks performed by the farmer or veterinarian. The highest concentration levels were observed during feed shovelling and blood sampling, the lowest during the weighing of the pigs. For the farmer, the estimated TWA exposure levels of inhalable and respirable PM were 6.0 and 0.29 mg m-3, respectively. These exposure levels for the veterinarian were, respectively, 10.6 and 0.74 mg m-3. The PM concentration levels were mainly determined by the performed operational tasks. There was no significant effect of pig age, pen floor type, nor cleaning of the pens on the personal exposure levels.
REFERENCES (29)
1.
EN 481. Workplace atmospheres. Size fraction definitions for measurement of airborne particles. 1993.
2.
Vincent JH. Aerosol Sampling: Science, Standards, Instrumentation and Applications. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, England, 2007. pp. 636.
3.
European Council. 30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air directive. Official Journal of the European Communities. 1999.
4.
Donham KJ. Association of Environmental Air Contaminants with Disease and Productivity in Swine. Am J Vet Res. 1991; 52: 1723–1730.
5.
Reynolds SJ, Donham KJ, Whitten P, Merchant JA, Burmeister LF, Popendorf WJ. Longitudinal evaluation of dose-response relationships for environmental exposures and pulmonary function in swine production workers. Am J Ind Med. 1996; 29: 33–40.
6.
Aarnink AJA, Stockhofe-Zurwieden N, Wagemans MJM. Dust in different housing systems for growing-finishing pigs. Proceedings of Engineering the Future. AgEng., Belgium, 2004.
7.
Haeussermann A, Fisher D, Jungbluth T, Baur J, Hartung E. Aerosol indoor concentration and particulate emission in fattening pig husbandry. Proceedings of Agricultural Engineering for a Better World. AgEng., Germany2006.
8.
Takai H, Pedersen S, Johnsen JO, Metz JHM, Koerkamp PWGG, Uenk GH, Phillips VR, Holden MR, Sneath RW, Short JL, White RP, Hartung J, Seedorf J, Schroder M, Linkert KH, Wathes CM. Concentrations and emissions of airborne dust in livestock buildings in Northern Europe. J Agr Eng Res. 1998; 70: 59–77.
9.
Schmidt D, Jacobson LD, Janni KA. Continuous monitoring of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust emissions from swine, dairyand poultry barns. Proceedings of 2002 ASAE Annual International Meeting/CIGR XVth World Congress. Chicago, Illinois, 2002.
10.
Van Ransbeeck N, Van Langenhove H, Van Weyenberg S, Maes D, Demeyer P. Typical indoor concentrations and emission rates of particulate matter at building level: A case study to setup a measuring strategy for pig fattening houses. Bios Eng. 2012; 111: 280–289.
11.
Radon K, Danuser B, Iversen M, Jorres R, Monso E, Opravil U, Weber C, Donham KJ, Nowak D. Respiratory symptoms in European animal farmers. Eur Resp J. 2001; 17: 747–754.
12.
Pope CA, Burnett RT, Thun MJ, Calle EE, Krewski D, IK, Thurston GD. Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality, and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution. JAMA. 2002; 287: 1132–1141.
13.
Harry EG. Air-Pollution in Farm-Buildings and Methods of Control – Review. Av Path. 1978; 7: 441–454.
14.
Doekes G, Dowes J, Dowling K, Dick Heederik, Kullman G, Lawson B, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Olenchock S, Seiber J, Peter Thorne P. Exposures in agricultural populations affecting respiratory health. In: Schenker M. American Thoracic Society: Respiratory Health Hazards in Aagriculture, 1998.
15.
Andersson AM, Weiss N, Rainey F, Salkinoja-Salonen MS. Dust-borne bacteria in animal sheds, schools and children’s day care centres. J Appl Microbiol. 1999; 86: 622–634.
16.
Mackiewicz B. Study on exposure of pig farm workers to bioaerosols, immunologic reoperational task and health effects. Ann Agric Envir Med. 1998; 5: 169–175.
17.
Radon K, Danuser B, Iversen M, Monso E, Weber C, Hartung J, Donham KJ, Palmgren U, Nowak D. Air contaminants in different European farming environments. Ann Agr Env Med. 2002; 9: 41–48.
18.
Lee SA, Adhikari A, Grinshpun SA, McKay R, Shukla R, Reponen T. Personal exposure to airborne dust and microorganisms in agricultural environments. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2006, 3: 118–130.
19.
EU. Commission Directive 2000/39/EC of 8 June 2000 establishing a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work. 2000.
20.
EU. Commission Directive 2006/15/EC of 7 February 2006 establishing a second list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC and amending Directives 91/322/EEC and 2000/39/EC. 2006.
22.
Mclean JA, Mathews KP, Brayton PR, Solomon WR, and Bayne NK. Effect of Ammonia on Nasal Resistance in Atopic and Nonatopic Subjects. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryn. 1979; 88: 228–234.
23.
O’Shaughnessy PT, Donham KJ, Peters TM, Taylor C, Altmaier R, and Kelly KM. A Task-Specific Assessment of Swine Worker Exposure to Airborne Dust. J Occup Env Hyg. 2010; 7: 7–13.
24.
Winkel AJA, Aarnink A. Blootstelling aan fijnstof in de biologische varkenshouderij. Rapport 284, 2009.
25.
Winkel A, Smolders AJA Aarnink NWM, Ogink N. Rapport 395 Wur Plan van aanpak voor ontwikkeling van fijnstofreductiemethoden in varkensstallen, 2011.
27.
Lemay S, Chenard L, MacDonbald R. Indoor Air Quality in Pig Buildings: Why is it important and how is it Managed? London Swine Conference– Conquering the Challenge. London, 2002.
28.
Cherrie JW, MacCalman L, Fransman W, Tielemans E, Tischer M,Van Tongeren M. Revisiting the Effect of Room Size and General Ventilation on the Relationship between Near- and Far-Field Air Concentrations. Ann Occup Hyg. 2011; 55: 1006–1015.
29.
Van Ransbeeck N, Van Langenhove H. & Demeyer P. Indoor concentrations and emission factors of particulate matter, ammonia and greenhouse gases for pig fattening facilities. Biosystems Engineering 2013; 116, 518-528.
RELATED ARTICLE
Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.