ILO Home
Go to the home page
Site map | Contact us Français | Español

CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)64049
CIS number 95-595
ISSN - Serial title 0355-3140 - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Year 1994
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Choudat D., Goehen M., Korobaeff M., Boulet A., Dewitte J.D., Martin M.H.
Title Respiratory symptoms and bronchial reactivity among pig and dairy farmers
Bibliographic information Feb. 1994, Vol.20, No.1, p.48-54. Illus. 36 ref.
Abstract This study assessed respiratory manifestations and bronchial reactivity among French pig and dairy farmers. It involved 102 pig farmers, 51 dairy farmers and 81 controls (all male). Pulmonary function tests were performed before and after a methacholine challenge (cumulative doses 80, 240, and 560µg). Airborne dust, ammonia and CO2 were measured inside 28 pig confinement buildings. The pig farmers were exposed to a total dust level of 2.41mg/m3, with a low level of respirable particle concentration. Farmers had significantly higher prevalence of cough and morning phlegm than controls. Before the methacholine challenge, the dairy farmers had non-significantly lower mean lung function values than the other groups. Among non-asthmatic subjects, non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity was significantly higher among farmers than among controls. The reduction in FEV1 was greater than 10% in 6.7% of the controls, 17.9% of the swine workers and 35.6% of the dairy farmers. Respiratory symptoms were significantly more common among pig farmers without original lung function impairment. However, all farmers showed increased bronchial reactivity.
Descriptors (primary) livestock rearing; functional respiratory disorders; symptoms
Descriptors (secondary) carbon dioxide; ammonia; swine; respiratory function tests; questionnaire survey; epidemiologic study; respirable dust
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceFrance
Subject(s) Dust, aerosols and related diseases
Broad subject area(s) Industries and occupations
Browse category(ies) Livestock rearing
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)