Lung function and respiratory symptoms in 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 cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British Journal of Industrial Medicine 1987-12, Vol.44 (12), p.819-823
Main Authors: Bongers, P, Houthuijs, D, Remijn, B, Brouwer, R, Biersteker, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural Workers' Diseases - etiology
Agriculture
Animal Husbandry
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Breeding
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Environmental and Occupational Health Group
Finishing
General aspects
Humans
Lung - physiopathology
Lung diseases
Lung Diseases - veterinary
Lungs
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Organic farming
Pig farms
Pilot Projects
Pulmonary functions
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory symptoms
Respiratory Tract Diseases - etiology
Swine
Swine Diseases - etiology
Toxicology
Vakgroep Gezondheidsleer
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0007-1072
1351-0711
1470-7926
DOI:10.1136/oem.44.12.819