Exposure of farm laborers and dairy cattle to formaldehyde from footbath use at a dairy farm in New York State.
Formalin footbaths are commonly used in the dairy industry to prevent cattle hoof diseases. Although formalin is a well-documented disinfectant, it is also a carcinogen and irritant. The aim of this study was to estimate the exposure of farm workers and dairy cattle to formaldehyde from footbaths located in a milking facility and a heifer facility at a dairy farm in western New York, USA. The dairy farm included approximately 3900 dairy cattle including young stock; of these, 1670 cows were milked three times per day in a 60-stall carousel milking parlor, and approximately 800 heifers were located at the heifer facility where footbaths with formalin were in use. The formaldehyde concentration of the air was measured using a Formaldemeter™ htV approximately 50cm above the 3% formalin footbaths in the milking (one footbath location) and heifer (three footbath locations) facilities on three consecutive days. The measured formaldehyde concentrations varied between 0.00 and 2.28ppm, falling within the safety guidelines established by the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States. Significant differences were found in the formaldehyde concentrations at the different footbath locations in the heifer facility, potentially due to the varying levels of ventilation at each location. Changes in the ambient temperature during the 3-day sampling period did not significantly affect the concentrations. We believe that the substantial ventilation at both the heifer and milking facilities ensured that the formaldehyde concentrations did not exceed OSHA guidelines, thus permitting the safe use of formalin footbaths in this farm.
University of Linnaeus, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Barlastgatan 11, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden.
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M
Doane
University of Linnaeus, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Barlastgatan 11, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden. Electronic address: sirkku.sarenbo@lnu.se.
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S
Sarenbo
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D001494:Baths; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003612:Dairying; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006724:Hoof and Claw; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D005557:Formaldehyde
CH(2)O; Dairy; Digital dermatitis; Emission; Footbath; Formalin