Assessment of Korean farmer's exposure level to dust in pig buildings.
The purpose of the study was to assess Korean farmer's exposure level to dust in pig buildings and dust emissions by investigating airborne concentrations of total and respirable dust. Five main types of pig buildings operating currently in Korea were selected. For area air sampling, 30 sites per each building type were visited during spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) seasons. For personal air sampling, concentrations of total and respirable dust were measured for 2-3 hours, during cleaning the pig building before the end of the daily shift, by attaching air sampling equipment near to the farmer's breathing zone. Measurement were taken for 8 hours, e.g. average daily work time (09:00-17:00), at 0.5 m above the floor at three locations on the central alley in the pig building. Emission rates of total and respirable dust were estimated by multiplying the mean concentration of total and respirable dust measured near the air outlet by the mean ventilation rate, and expressed either per area or per pig of live weight. The ranges of farmer's exposure level to total dust and respirable dust in the pig buildings were estimated as 0.6-6.7 mg m(-3) and 0.3-3.5 mg m(-3), respectively. The pig buildings operated with a deep-litter bed system showed the highest dust level while the naturally ventilated pig buildings with slats represented the lowest dust level (p<0.05). Emission rates ranged from 35-400 mg h(-1) m(-2) for total dust and from 4-40 mg h(-1) m(-2) for respirable dust, respectively, indicating a similar pattern for the distribution of exposure level. Korean farmers' exposure level to dust in all the pig buildings investigated was below the exposure limit value equal in Korea equal to 10 mg m(-3), while it exceeded the threshold limit values (TLVs) established in other developed countries. In comparison with previous studies performed in other countries, mean exposure level in the pig buildings of Korea was generally lower for total dust and higher for respirable dust based on the area sampling method.
Kim
Ki Youn
KY
Institute of Industrial and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea. kkysnu5@empal.com
Ko
Han Jong
HJ
Kim
Yoon Shin
YS
Kim
Chi Nyon
CN
D000336:Aerosols; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D007723:Korea; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D013552:Swine; D020711:Threshold Limit Values
D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust