title: Evaluation of respiratory effects related to high-pressure cleaning in a piggery with and without robot pre-cleaning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exposure in connection with cleaning piggeries induces airway inflammation. The aim of this study was to compare the health effects related to two different cleaning processes in a piggery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-over study design, 12 subjects were randomly exposed for three hours during the cleaning of a piggery with a high pressure water jet, with and without pre-cleaning using a robot. We assessed lung function, bronchial responsiveness, symptoms, body temperature, and exhaled nitric oxide, and performed blood sampling and nasal lavage before and after both exposures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with ordinary cleaning without the use of a robot, pre-cleaning with a robot significantly reduced the increase in bronchial responsiveness (P=0.049), total cell number (P=0.0029), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 level [P=0.016]) in nasal lavage, and diminished the increase in neutrophils (P=0.0029) in the blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-cleaning of a piggery with a robot reduced exposure to dust and endotoxin, and resulted in an attenuation of the increase in bronchial responsiveness and the airway inflammatory response compared pre-cleaning without a robot.
authors.affiliation: Lung and Allergy Research, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Deline
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hiel
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: von Schéele
authors.forename: Britt-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sundblad
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012371:Robotics; D013552:Swine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide