Occupational exposure to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans in poultry houses at different stages of the production cycle
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2013, Vol 20, Issue 2
Abstract
The aim of the presented study was to assess the exposure of poultry workers to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans during different stages of the chicken production cycle in 3 commercially-operated poultry houses. Personal and stationary sampling was carried out to assess exposure to both viable and total microbial aerosols. The stationary measurements of PM[sub]10[/sub] were performed to establish the level of endotoxins and β-glucans. The concentrations of bacterial and fungal aerosols ranged from 2.5×10[sup]2[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] – 2.9×10[sup]6[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup], and from 1.8×10[sup]2[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] – 1.8×10[sup]5[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup], respectively. The number of culturable microorganisms was significantly lower than their total counts, constituting from 0.0004% – 6.4% of the total microbial flora. The level of PM10 in poultry facilities did not exceed 4.5 mg/m[sup]3[/sup]. After the flock entered the clean house, the level of endotoxins and β-glucans increased from below detection limit to 8,364 ng/m[sup]3[/sup] and from 0.8 ng/m[sup]3[/sup] to 6,886 ng/m[sup]3[/sup], respectively. The presented study shows that professional activities in poultry farms are associated with constant exposure to bioaerosol, which may pose a health hazard to workers. It was found that workers’ exposure to airborne microorganisms increased with consecutive stages of the chicken production cycle.
Authors and Affiliations
Anna Lawniczek-Walczyk, Rafal Górny, Malgorzata Golofit-Szymczak, Agnieszka Wlazlo
Keywords
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