title: Short term exposure to low amounts of airway irritants in a swine confinement building and inflammatory markers in blood and exhaled air.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Swine confinement buildings are known to contain large concentrations of airway irritants, and a number of studies have shown acute inflammatory effects in previously unexposed subjects when introduced to the environment in such buildings. However, studies comparing different methods of assessing such reactions are lacking, and it is not known if a measurable response could be found at lower exposure rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate exposure levels in a Norwegian swine confinement building, the airway response to such exposure, and to compare invasive and non-invasive methods of response measurement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve medical students who were previously unexposed to swine dust stayed in a swine confinement building in Norway for 4 hours, and underwent measurements before and after the start of exposure. The same measurements were also performed beforehand, on the same weekday without exposure, in such a manner that the subjects were their own controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exposure assessment showed considerably lower concentrations of organic dust and endotoxin than earlier studies. However, small, but significant increases in markers of airway inflammation, were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Airway response can be measured after lower exposure to airborne irritants in swine confinement buildings than previously known. Further research is needed to assess whether this finding can be utilized for preventive purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lyngen
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buhagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Torgunn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qvenild
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Clinical Sciences in Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tufvesson
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hilt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins