Ambient and indoor particulate aerosols generated by dairies in the southern High Plains

Abstract

The objectives were to quantify and size ambient aerosolized dust in and around the facilities of 4 southern High Plains dairies of New Mexico and to determine where health of workers might be vulnerable to particulate aerosols, based on aerosol concentrations that exceed national air quality standards. Ambient dust air samples were collected upwind (background) and downwind of 3 dairy location sites (loafing pen boundary, commodity, and compost field). The indoor milking parlor, a fourth site, was monitored immediately upwind and downwind. Aerosolized particulate samples were collected using high-volume sequential reference air samplers, laser aerosol monitors, and cyclone air samplers. The overall (main effects and estimable interactions) statistical general linear model statement for particulate matter (PM(10); particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of up to 10 microm) and PM(2.5) resulted in a greater mean concentration of dust in the winter (PM(10) = 97.4 +/- 4.4 microg/m(3); PM(2.5) = 32.6 +/- 2.6 microg/m(3)) compared with the summer (PM(10) = 71.9 +/- 5.0 microg/m(3); PM(2.5) = 18.1 +/- 1.2 microg/m(3)). The upwind and downwind boundary PM(10) concentrations were significantly higher in the winter (upwind = 64.3 +/- 9.5 microg/m(3); downwind = 119.8 +/- 13.0 microg/m(3)) compared with the summer (upwind = 35.2 +/- 7.5 microg/m(3); downwind = 66.8 +/- 11.8 microg/m(3)). The milking parlor PM(10) and PM(2.5) concentration data were significantly higher in the winter (PM(10) = 119.5 +/- 5.8 microg/m(3); PM(2.5) = 55.3 +/- 5.8microg/m(3)) compared with the summer (PM(10) = 88.6.0 +/- 5.8 microg/m(3); PM(2.5) = 21.0 +/- 2.1 microg/m(3)). Personnel should be protected from high aerosol concentrations found at the commodity barn, compost field, and milking parlor during the winter.

Airborne cow allergen, ammonia and particulate matter at homes vary with distance to industrial scale dairy operations: an exposure assessment

“…It has been shown that larger particles can be carriers of important biological agents [23,48,49]. In addition, inhalable particles have been associated with increased asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis and upper airway diseases in agricultural workers [11,50-55].…”

Occupational exposure to particulate matter and endotoxin for California dairy workers

“…Previous studies that have reported on occupational exposure of PM and endotoxin on dairies have been conducted in locations that have cold winters, such as New Mexico (Purdy et al, 2009), Wisconsin , Switzerland (Cathomas et al, 2002), and France (Gaint et al, 2007) where animal housing tends to be enclosed. These conditions differ from those in California, where cows are mainly housed in naturally ventilated barns and open corrals.…”

Cow allergen (Bos d2) and endotoxin concentrations are higher in the settled dust of homes proximate to industrial-scale dairy operations

“…As a component of animal manure, endotoxin is generally found in greater amounts in agricultural environments but can vary greatly depending on the environment and agricultural processes used. 17 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 Mueller-Anneling et al 37 conducted an evaluation of endotoxin in air samples of various agricultural environments in California. In the California study, the highest airborne concentrations of endotoxin were found in the ambient air of a community in close proximity to industrial dairy production and were associated primarily with PM 10 .…”