Total dust and endotoxin in poultry operations: comparison between cage and floor housing and respiratory effects in workers.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess respiratory outcomes and environmental exposure levels of workers in cage-housed and floor-housed poultry operations.


METHODS
Poultry operations were evaluated for total dust, endotoxin, and ammonia, and respiratory symptoms and lung function tests of workers were conducted.


RESULTS
Workers in floor-housed poultry operations had significantly greater exposures to total dust and ammonia, whereas workers from cage-housed poultry operations reported greater frequency of current and chronic symptoms overall and significantly greater current and chronic phlegm (39% vs 18% and 40% vs 11%, respectively). Endotoxin concentration (EU/mg) was a significant predictor (P = 0.05) of chronic phlegm for all poultry workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater endotoxin concentration in the presence of significantly lower total dust, in conjunction with greater respiratory symptoms in workers from cage-housed poultry operations, as compared with workers from floor-housed poultry operations, appears to indicate that differences in environmental exposures may impact respiratory outcomes of workers.
Kirychuk
S P
SP
Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Kirychuk@sask.usask.ca
Dosman
J A
JA
Reynolds
S J
SJ
Willson
P
P
Senthilselvan
A
A
Feddes
J J R
JJ
Classen
H L
HL
Guenter
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011200:Poultry; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology
D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins