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A Study of the Relationship Between Airborne Contaminants and Environmental Factors in Dutch Swine Confinement Buildings
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1987
Year
Environmental MonitoringEngineeringAir Pollution FiltrationAir QualityExposure AssessmentDust FractionsSwine Confinement BuildingsEnvironmental ExposureEnvironmental HealthEnvironmental FactorsToxicologyPearson CorrelationsPublic HealthHazardous PollutantsIndoor Test RangesHuman ExposureEcotoxicologyAnimal Waste ManagementEnvironmental EngineeringBiological PollutantChemical ContaminantsContamination ControlIndoor Air QualityAir PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology
A total of 171 swine confinement buildings were studied to determine concentrations of airborne total and D50 ≤ µm 8.5 dust fractions, total and gram‑negative bacteria, bacterial endotoxin and NH₃, and these concentrations were statistically correlated with environmental factors such as feeding practices, animal number, and ventilation parameters. Airborne dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and NH₃ are commonly found at high concentrations in swine confinement buildings, with levels linked to health effects, and correlations reveal that ventilation and various farming practices significantly influence contaminant levels, indicating key criteria for industrial hygienists to monitor.
A total of 171 swine confinement buildings were studied to determine the concentrations of airborne total and D50 ≤ µm 8.5 dust fractions, total and gram-negative bacteria, bacterial endotoxin and NH3. The concentrations of these airborne contaminants then were correlated statistically to a number of environmental factors such as feeding practices, number of animals and ventilation parameters. The results showed that airborne dust, endotoxin, bacteria and NH3 are commonly in high concentrations within the swine confinement buildings and that these are at levels where health effects have been observed in other studies. Correlation of these airborne contaminants to a number of environmental factors showed that while ventilation is an important criteria for airborne contaminants, there are a number of farming practices that significantly contribute to the levels of airborne contaminants currently found. Pearson correlations indicate a number of important criteria that the industrial hygienist should measure when faced with problems in agricultural confinement buildings.