title: Airborne cow allergen, ammonia and particulate matter at homes vary with distance to industrial scale dairy operations: an exposure assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community exposures to environmental contaminants from industrial scale dairy operations are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of dairy operations on nearby communities by assessing airborne contaminants (particulate matter, ammonia, and cow allergen, Bos d 2) associated with dairy operations inside and outside homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 40 homes in the Yakima Valley, Washington State where over 61 dairies operate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A concentration gradient was observed showing that airborne contaminants are significantly greater at homes within one-quarter mile (0.4 km) of dairy facilities, outdoor Bos d 2, ammonia, and TD were 60, eight, and two times higher as compared to homes greater than three miles (4.8 km) away. In addition median indoor airborne Bos d 2 and ammonia concentrations were approximately 10 and two times higher in homes within one-quarter mile (0.4 km) compared to homes greater than three miles (4.8 km) away.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that dairy operations increase community exposures to agents with known human health effects. This study also provides evidence that airborne biological contaminants (i.e. cow allergen) associated with airborne particulate matter are statistically elevated at distances up to three miles (4.8 km) from dairy operations.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N, Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. dlwillia@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: D'Ann L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Patrick N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Breysse
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Gregory B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Diette
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Alison S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Geyh
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003612:Dairying; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014861:Washington
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C113339:Bos d 2 allergen; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000641:Ammonia