Poultry houses are generally considered to be a major source emitting various particles to the environment, which greatly depends on the technology of animal keeping and housing. Besides other contaminants, dust and endotoxins are present in high concentrations in the air of poultry houses.Dust concentrations in broiler facilities range from 2 to 10 mg/m 3 (Wathes et al., 1997). Investigating the mean daily airborne dust concentrations in various animal houses in England and Netherlands, Takai et al. (1998) found them to be significantly higher in poultry fattening houses than in other animal houses. They also found the airborne dust concentration in these facilities to be influenced by animal population density, animal activity, litter type, and air humidity. Hauser and Folsch (1993) Supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (Grant No. 053-0531854-1867 ABSTRACT: Poultry farming is considered to be a notable source of bioaerosols. They can be a risk factor from the aspect of some diseases and for the environment. A study was conducted to assess the effect of microclimate on the level of airborne dust and endotoxins in an intensive broiler fattening facility. The content of airborne dust, endotoxins, air temperature, relative humidity, airflow velocity, ammonia and carbon dioxide were determined. The study was conducted in a poultry house accommodating 22 000 broilers of Ross-308 breed. The measured temperature in the broiler house ranged from 22.02°C to 31.05°C, relative humidity from 49.55% to 65.45%, and airflow velocity from 0.07 m/s to 0.09 m/s. The air concentration of dust ranged from 2.0 mg/m 3 at the end of fattening period to 4.9 mg/m 3 in the mid-fattening period, and endotoxins from 6.21 EU/m 3 in the second study week to 99.40 EU/m 3 at the end of fattening period. The air concentration of ammonia ranged from 5.17 ppm at the beginning to 25.49 ppm at the end of fattening period. Air concentrations of dust and endotoxins recorded in this poultry house varied during the fattening period and depended on relative humidity and temperature as demonstrated by multiple regression at the level of P ≤ 0.05.

An enormous increase in the application of wireless communication in recent decades has intensified research into consequent increase in human exposure to electromagnetic (EM) radiofrequency (RF) radiation fields and potential health effects, especially in school children and teenagers, and this paper gives a snap overview of current findings and recommendations of international expert bodies, with the emphasis on exposure from Wi-Fi technology indoor devices. Our analysis includes over 100 in vitro, animal, epidemiological, and exposure assessment studies (of which 37 in vivo and 30 covering Wi-Fi technologies). Only a small portion of published research papers refers to the “real” health impact of Wi-Fi technologies on children, because they are simply not available. Results from animal studies are rarely fully transferable to humans. As highly controlled laboratory exposure experiments do not reflect real physical interaction between RF radiation fields with biological tissue, dosimetry methods, protocols, and instrumentation need constant improvement. Several studies repeatedly confirmed thermal effect of RF field interaction with human tissue, but non-thermal effects remain dubious and unconfirmed.

The concentration of trace elements (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) was measured in different species of mushrooms (Boletaceae) and correlated with corresponding elements in soil. Five different species of Boletaceae mushrooms and soil samples were collected from forests of Varaždin county in Croatia. Trace elements were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry in mushrooms and in EDTA-extracted soil. The results showed that Cd, Cu, and Zn are concentrated in mushroom tissue from soil with transfer factors (mushroom/soil) of 27.0, 10.5, and 12.5, respectively. Cadmium incorporated much less in Leccinum (mean 0.73 mg/kg dry weight) than in Boletus, Xerocomus, or Gyroporus (respective means, 6.8, 8.4, and 12.3 mg/kg). Copper and Zn were accumulated in all collected mushrooms (14.7–35.6 and 109–179 mg/kg, respectively) with no difference among species. There was no accumulation of Fe and Mn in mushrooms, but concentrations differed between species, with lowest values in Leccinum. Iron varied from 31 to 878 mg/kg and Mn from 2.9 to 409 mg/kg. Correlations between elements in mushrooms and soil were significant only for Mn. Because no significant correlations for Cd, Cu, Zn, and Fe between mushrooms and soil were found, more studies are needed with only one species of mushrooms collected at locations with different levels of soil contamination. In spite of higher concentrations of Cd in some Boletaceae species, it is assumed that Cd intake through moderate mushroom consumption remains below suggested Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (FAO/WHO).

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In the present study, air quality in a cage-housed laying hen house was investigated throughout the seasons by assessing dust and endotoxin concentrations. Measurements were done twice a month during the 1-year production cycle. The mean levels of dust and endotoxins ranged from 0.60 mg/m 3 in May to 2.83 mg/m 3 in November, and from 203.15 EU/m 3 in August to 745.53 EU/m 3 in April. Significantly higher concentrations of dust and endotoxins in the poultry house were determined in the autumn and winter seasons, and endotoxins in the spring season as well, compared to the summer (P<0.05 all). The results suggested that the cooler periods of the year pose a greater risk for the welfare and performance of laying hens, but also for the health of humans working in these settings in terms of the levels of airborne dust and endotoxins.