BACKGROUND. Work in swine confinement units causes exposure to high levels of organic dust, bacteria, endotoxin and ammonia. The aim of our study was to investigate respiratory symptoms, lung function and sensitisation in a group of Italian swine workers. METHODS. Airborne concentration of dust, ammonia and endotoxin were measured. A 5-years follow-up determination of FVC, FEV1, respiratory symptoms, skin prick test sensitisation was performed in 86 swine confinement building workers. The control group was composed by 89 workers not exposed to organic dusts. RESULTS. The air concentration of inhalable dust was 0.45 ± 0.09 mg/m3, ammonia 3.02 ± 2.7 mg/m3, endotoxin 0.23 ± 0.2μg/ m3. In the first period, FVC% and FEV1% were found significantly lower in swine workers than in controls (p<0.001) without differences in respiratory symptoms. None of the workers was skin prick test positive to pig dander, while sensitisation to common allergens was shown in 31% of them. The follow-up was completed only on 44 swine workers because 42 of them left the work for finding a better job. At the end of the exposure period, the respiratory symptoms were significantly higher (p<0.05). in swine workers (cough 13.6% and rhinitis 12.8%) than in controls The trend in respiratory function was analyzed using the General Estimation Equation considering the repeated measures of FVC% and FEV1%, the professional exposures, the smoking habit and the length of working activity. The statistical analysis emonstrated that the work in swineconfinement buildings causes an accelerated decline in FVC% with data corrected for smoking habit and period of work (p=0012). CONCLUSION. Our data confirm that exposure in swine onfinement buildings is associated with the development of respiratory symptoms and impairment of lung function.
Respiratory diseases in swine workers: a 5 years follow-up
MAINA, Giovanni
2006-01-01
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Work in swine confinement units causes exposure to high levels of organic dust, bacteria, endotoxin and ammonia. The aim of our study was to investigate respiratory symptoms, lung function and sensitisation in a group of Italian swine workers. METHODS. Airborne concentration of dust, ammonia and endotoxin were measured. A 5-years follow-up determination of FVC, FEV1, respiratory symptoms, skin prick test sensitisation was performed in 86 swine confinement building workers. The control group was composed by 89 workers not exposed to organic dusts. RESULTS. The air concentration of inhalable dust was 0.45 ± 0.09 mg/m3, ammonia 3.02 ± 2.7 mg/m3, endotoxin 0.23 ± 0.2μg/ m3. In the first period, FVC% and FEV1% were found significantly lower in swine workers than in controls (p<0.001) without differences in respiratory symptoms. None of the workers was skin prick test positive to pig dander, while sensitisation to common allergens was shown in 31% of them. The follow-up was completed only on 44 swine workers because 42 of them left the work for finding a better job. At the end of the exposure period, the respiratory symptoms were significantly higher (p<0.05). in swine workers (cough 13.6% and rhinitis 12.8%) than in controls The trend in respiratory function was analyzed using the General Estimation Equation considering the repeated measures of FVC% and FEV1%, the professional exposures, the smoking habit and the length of working activity. The statistical analysis emonstrated that the work in swineconfinement buildings causes an accelerated decline in FVC% with data corrected for smoking habit and period of work (p=0012). CONCLUSION. Our data confirm that exposure in swine onfinement buildings is associated with the development of respiratory symptoms and impairment of lung function.
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