Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1992 Jun;49(6):435–440. doi: 10.1136/oem.49.6.435

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in swine confinement workers.

E Zuskin 1, Z Zagar 1, E N Schachter 1, J Mustajbegovic 1, J Kern 1
PMCID: PMC1012126  PMID: 1606030

Abstract

A group of 59 workers (41 men and 18 women) employed in swine confinement areas was studied to assess the presence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and the prevalence of abnormalities in ventilatory function. A control group of 46 (31 men and 15 women) unexposed workers was studied for the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms. For both male and female swine confinement workers complaints of chronic cough, dyspnoea, and chest tightness were significantly more frequent than among control workers. Male workers also complained more of chronic phlegm. Male swine confinement workers who were smokers had significantly higher prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, and chronic bronchitis than male non-smoking swine confinement workers. The frequency of acute symptoms associated with the workshift was high among the swine confinement workers with more than half of the workers complaining of cough and dyspnoea associated with work. Significant acute across shift reductions in lung function occurred in swine confinement workers, being largest for FEF25. All Monday preshift ventilatory capacity measurements in male confinement workers were significantly lower than predicted values; FVC and FEV1 were found to be lower than predicted values for women. The data indicate that exposure in swine confinement buildings is associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of lung function. Smoking appears to aggravate these changes.

Full text

PDF
435

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Attwood P., Brouwer R., Ruigewaard P., Versloot P., de Wit R., Heederik D., Boleij J. S. A study of the relationship between airborne contaminants and environmental factors in Dutch swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1987 Aug;48(8):745–751. doi: 10.1080/15298668791385507. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bongers P., Houthuijs D., Remijn B., Brouwer R., Biersteker K. Lung function and respiratory symptoms in pig farmers. Br J Ind Med. 1987 Dec;44(12):819–823. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.12.819. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brouwer R., Biersteker K., Bongers P., Remijn B., Houthuijs D. Respiratory symptoms, lung function, and IgG4 levels against pig antigens in a sample of Dutch pig farmers. Am J Ind Med. 1986;10(3):283–285. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700100314. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Castellan R. M., Olenchock S. A., Hankinson J. L., Millner P. D., Cocke J. B., Bragg C. K., Perkins H. H., Jr, Jacobs R. R. Acute bronchoconstriction induced by cotton dust: dose-related responses to endotoxin and other dust factors. Ann Intern Med. 1984 Aug;101(2):157–163. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-101-2-157. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cherniack R. M., Raber M. B. Normal standards for ventilatory function using an automated wedge spirometer. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1972 Jul;106(1):38–46. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1972.106.1.38. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Clark S., Rylander R., Larsson L. Airborne bacteria, endotoxin and fungi in dust in poultry and swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1983 Jul;44(7):537–541. doi: 10.1080/15298668391405265. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Donham K. J., Haglind P., Peterson Y., Rylander R. Environmental and health studies in swine confinement buildings. Am J Ind Med. 1986;10(3):289–293. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700100317. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Donham K. J., Knapp L. W., Monson R., Gustafson K. Acute toxic exposure to gases from liquid manure. J Occup Med. 1982 Feb;24(2):142–145. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Donham K. J., Merchant J. A., Lassise D., Popendorf W. J., Burmeister L. F. Preventing respiratory disease in swine confinement workers: intervention through applied epidemiology, education, and consultation. Am J Ind Med. 1990;18(3):241–261. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700180303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Donham K. J., Popendorf W. J. Ambient levels of selected gases inside swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1985 Nov;46(11):658–661. doi: 10.1080/15298668591395490. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Donham K. J., Popendorf W., Palmgren U., Larsson L. Characterization of dusts collected from swine confinement buildings. Am J Ind Med. 1986;10(3):294–297. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700100318. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Donham K. J., Rubino M., Thedell T. D., Kammermeyer J. Potential health hazards to agricultural workers in swine confinement buildings. J Occup Med. 1977 Jun;19(6):383–387. doi: 10.1097/00043764-197706000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Donham K. J., Scallon L. J., Popendorf W., Treuhaft M. W., Roberts R. C. Characterization of dusts collected from swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1986 Jul;47(7):404–410. doi: 10.1080/15298668691389955. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Donham K. J., Zavala D. C., Merchant J. A. Respiratory symptoms and lung function among workers in swine confinement buildings: a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Arch Environ Health. 1984 Mar-Apr;39(2):96–101. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1984.10545842. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Donham K. J., Zavala D. C., Merchant J. Acute effects of the work environment on pulmonary functions of swine confinement workers. Am J Ind Med. 1984;5(5):367–375. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700050505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Donham K., Haglind P., Peterson Y., Rylander R., Belin L. Environmental and health studies of farm workers in Swedish swine confinement buildings. Br J Ind Med. 1989 Jan;46(1):31–37. doi: 10.1136/oem.46.1.31. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Dosman J. A., Graham B. L., Hall D., Pahwa P., McDuffie H. H., Lucewicz M., To T. Respiratory symptoms and alterations in pulmonary function tests in swine producers in Saskatchewan: results of a survey of farmers. J Occup Med. 1988 Sep;30(9):715–720. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Haglind P., Rylander R. Occupational exposure and lung function measurements among workers in swine confinement buildings. J Occup Med. 1987 Nov;29(11):904–907. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Harries M. G., Cromwell O. Occupational asthma caused by allergy to pigs' urine. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Mar 20;284(6319):867–867. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6319.867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Holness D. L., O'Blenis E. L., Sass-Kortsak A., Pilger C., Nethercott J. R. Respiratory effects and dust exposures in hog confinement farming. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(5):571–580. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110509. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Martin A. M. Dependence of acoustic attenuation of hearing protectors on incident sound level. Br J Ind Med. 1979 Feb;36(1):1–14. doi: 10.1136/oem.36.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Petsonk E. L., Olenchock S. A., Castellan R. M., Banks D. E., Mull J. C., Hankinson J. L., Bragg K. C., Perkins H. H., Cocke J. B. Human ventilatory response to washed and unwashed cottons from different growing areas. Br J Ind Med. 1986 Mar;43(3):182–187. doi: 10.1136/oem.43.3.182. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Rylander R., Haglind P. Exposure of cotton workers in an experimental cardroom with reference to airborne endotoxins. Environ Health Perspect. 1986 Apr;66:83–86. doi: 10.1289/ehp.866683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Rylander R., Haglind P., Lundholm M. Endotoxin in cotton dust and respiratory function decrement among cotton workers in an experimental cardroom. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Feb;131(2):209–213. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1985.131.2.209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Zuskin E., Mataija M., Pokrajac D., Schachter E. N., Witek T. J., Jr Respiratory function in animal food processing workers. Am J Ind Med. 1989;16(2):179–187. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700160209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Zuskin E., Skuric Z., Kanceljak B., Pokrajac D., Schachter E. N., Witek T. J., Jr Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in soy bean workers. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(2):157–165. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Zuskin E., Skuric Z., Kanceljak B., Pokrajac D., Schachter E. N., Witek T. J. Respiratory findings in spice factory workers. Arch Environ Health. 1988 Sep-Oct;43(5):335–339. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1988.9934944. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. doPico G. A. Health effects of organic dusts in the farm environment. Report on diseases. Am J Ind Med. 1986;10(3):261–265. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700100310. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Industrial Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES