Previous studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of respiratory and other symptoms and a decrement in lung function among pig farm workers, although the relationships with specific agents present in the work environment remain obscure. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the relationship between symptoms, lung function and airborne endotoxin, ammonia and dust levels in piggeries. Information on symptoms, lung function, endotoxin, ammonia and dust levels was available for 183 pig farmers who worked in 136 farms. For 62 farms information was present on the levels of bacteria and gram-negative bacteria. For these 62 farms, endotoxin exposure measurements were taken in more than one stable. In general, no significant correlations were found between lung function and chronic respiratory symptoms, or dust and ammonia levels. The endotoxin concentration in stables was negatively related to most lung function variables, but only for the subgroup of 62 farmers was a statistically significant relationship found between endoxtoxin exposure and FEV1. A borderline statistically significant and negative relationship was found between the endotoxin concentration and the FVC. Symptoms experienced during or shortly after work showed odds ratios larger than one with the levels of bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin, indicating a positive relationship. No consistency in the relationship between symptoms and dust levels was found. The results suggest that endotoxins and (gram-negative) bacteria probably play an important role in the development of symptoms and lung function changes among pig farmers.
In a pilot study to investigate the health effects of swine confinement work on the respiratory tract pulmonary function tests and a questionnaire for respiratory symptoms were used. Complete data, including qualitative exposure information, were gathered for 132 owners of fattening, breeding, or closed pig farms. All measured pulmonary function values, except the FVC, were on average lower than the reference values of the European Committee for Coal and Steel. There were no significant associations between duration of exposure and pulmonary function. About 28% of the farmers had respiratory or flu-like symptoms during or shortly after confinement work; 14% reported symptoms four to eight hours after work. For the fattening farm the following elements of confinement management were negatively correlated with pulmonary function: fully slatted floor, an automatic feeding system, natural ventilation, and the use of dust masks. A significant association between lung disease of the pigs and pulmonary function of the pig farmers was observed.In the past 20 years pig farming has been one of the fastest growing agrarian professions in The Netherlands, especially in the southern and eastern regions, with sandy soils, where traditionally farms were small.Few Dutch data were available about work related health effects of swine confinement work. '
Information gathered in the Zutphen Study, the Dutch contribution to the Seven Countries Study that started in the 1960s, was used for the present study. In 1960 878 men participated in the physical examination and they were followed for 25 years until 1 July 1985. During this follow-up, their morbidity status was verified regularly. With this information the occurrence of chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD) at a specific time was coded by one physician, using strict criteria. The CNSLD diagnosis was based on the following criteria: episodes of respiratory symptoms such as regular cough and phlegm for longer than three months or episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath reported to the survey physician, or: diagnosis of CNSLD, including chronic bronchitis or emphysema by a clinical specialist. Occupation in 1960 was coded and used to generate specific occupational exposures with a Job Exposure Matrix. Because the exact time of diagnosis of CNSLD was known, incidence densities could be calculated. For 804 men a complete set of data was available. A Poisson regression analysis was used to analyse the relationships between the incidence density and independent variables like age, calendar period, occupation and specific occupational exposures. Blue collar workers had a significantly elevated incidence density ratio (IDR) compared to white collar workers (1.82, 95% confidence limits (CL): 1.35, 2.46). Subgroups of blue collar workers, wood and paper workers, textile workers, and tailors, construction workers and transport workers had significantly elevated IDRs also. Of the specific exposures heavy metals, mineral dust and adhesives had a significantly elevated IDR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
In 1983 we distributed a postal questionnaire with 30 questions about the locomotor system, respiratory tract, the skin, and general health condition and about health hazards in the work environment to a sample of farmers. In addition, we asked the farmers to express their opinion about what they experienced as the main health hazards in their work environment.The questionnaire was sent to 1,895 randomly selected farmers. Main occupation is farming in one of the eight categories; the farmers were registered by the Agricultural Economic Institute. The random sample was stratified into eight categories for farm size. The age of the farmers was between 40 and 60 years. The final response rate was approximately 70%, and there was no significant difference in response rate between the different categories of farmers.Pig farming and poultry husbandry had the largest number of health problems. The pig farmers scored high, especially for respiratory symptoms, and they complained often about dust exposure Willems et al, 19841.Lung function was measured according to the ECCS standard [Quanjer, 19831 in a population of 174 pig farmers 25-65 years old. Additional information was gathered with a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, qualitative exposure, farm characteristics, and confounding factors. Ultimately, the population used for analysis consisted of 132 persons Pongers, 19841. Based on the expected differences in types of pig farms, we divided the population into three groups: 1) farmers fattening pigs (n = 62), 2) farmers breeding pigs (n = 42), and 3) farmers both breeding and fattening pigs (closed pig farm) (n = 28).
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