Brigitta Danuser

Respiratory symptoms in European animal farmers

Farmers are known to be at high risk for the development of occupational airway disease. The aim of this European study was to determine which airway symptoms predominate in different types of animal farmers (cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep) and to compare the prevalence of symptoms to the general population. A total of 6,156 randomly selected animal farmers in Denmark, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen), Switzerland, and Spain completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and farming characteristics in 1995-1997. The prevalence of general respiratory symptoms was compared to the results of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) obtained in the same regions. Pig farmers were at highest risk for the development of work-related symptoms. A significant dose-response relationship between daily hours worked inside animal houses and symptoms was established for pig and poultry farmers. Additionally, self-reported nasal allergies (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.92 (3.26-4.71)) and nasal irritation during work (3.98 (3.35-4.73)) were shown to be associated with the development of chronic phlegm. The prevalence of wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma and nasal allergies was signficantly lower among all farmers in the age group 20-44 yrs than among the general population. However, the prevalence of usually bringing up phlegm in winter among farmers was significantly higher than in the general population (9.4 (8.3-10.5%) versus 7.5 (6.5-8.5%)). Individual factors have been shown to be related to the prevalence of chronic phlegm among farmers. Additionally, this study could support the hypothesis that farming could be negatively related to allergic diseases.

Affective computing--a rationale for measuring mood with mouse and keyboard.

Emotions are an increasingly important factor in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Up to the present, emotion recognition in HCI implies the use of explicit or intrusive methods, for example, video cameras or physiological measurements. We are developing and evaluating a method for the measurement of affective states through motor-behavioral parameters from standard input devices (mouse and keyboard).

Exposure assessment and lung function in pig and poultry farmers

OBJECTIVES To describe the relation between spirometric findings and farming characteristics and variables of exposure to organic dust measured during work in animal buildings. Farmers have traditionally been described as having one of the most dangerous occupations, so a large scale study on European farmers was carried out. This is the report of the second part of that study. METHODS 40 pig farmers in Denmark and 36 poultry farmers in Switzerland were chosen randomly and were assessed over 1 working day. RESULTS Mean (SD) baseline spirometric results in pig farmers were higher than in poultry farmers (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (% of reference value) 108.3 (16.7) v 100.2 (14.2); p=0.04). Baseline lung function results were significantly associated with ventilation of the animal houses. Furthermore, temperature was related to spirometric findings in pig farmers. CONCLUSIONS Ventilation of the animal house and temperature might influence respiratory morbidity in farmers.

Performance in a complex task and breathing under odor exposure.

We investigated the influences of odor exposure on performance and on breathing measures. The task was composed of tracking, short-term memory, and peripheral reaction parts. During rest or while performing the task, 12 participants were exposed to 4 different odors in 2 intensities. The higher intensity of the malodors induced a short-term decrement in mean inspiration flow (Vi/Ti) after stimulus onset and impaired performance in the short-term memory task, as compared with control trials; no effect was found for the positively judged odors. The study suggests that a distractor as simple as a bad smell may pull a person off task, however briefly, and may result in a detriment to performance. Actual or potential applications of this research involve designing or securing tasks in such a way that a brief withdrawal of attention does not have fatal consequences.

Lungenfunktion und Symptome bei Beschäftigten in Geflügelbetrieben

Environmental measurements were made in different types of poultry confinement buildings. Levels of total dust 1.6 meters above the ground averaged 5.0 mg/m3. Ammonia levels averaged about 13 ppm with peak values of about 50 ppm. To study possible respiratory problems of the people working in these confinement buildings, the ventilatory lung function was measured and an interrogation concerning respiratory symptoms was carried out by 26 (7 females, 19 males) poultry farmers. A very high prevalence (10 of 26) of obstructive ventilatory lung function changes was found. The FEV1 values of the exposed men were significantly lower than the predicted normal values (ECCS). An association between duration of exposure and pulmonary function exists.

Passive smoking. Acute effects on the lung function of sensitive persons

From the relationship between the degree of air pollution due to tobacco and its acute effects on healthy persons it is possible to estimate the still tolerable level of air pollution for healthy adults. The results and conclusions of the studies published by now on acute effects of passive smoking on patients with bronchial asthma are partially contradictory and do not allow a reliable estimation of the upper limit of tobacco smoke exposure for this particularly sensitive group. Because of methodological problems in studies with symptomatic asthmatics, further studies should be conducted which investigate patients with hayfever and asthma out of the pollen season, clinically healthy subjects with nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity upon pharmacological challenge, and subjects who claim sensitivity to tobacco smoke.

Generation and characterization of cigarette sidestream smoke

Abstract To investigate acute effects of environmental tobacco smoke on lung function different consecutive smoke concentrations from 0 to 32 ppm CO were required. Therefore a cigarette sidestream smoke generation and dilution system was developped. For a better characterization of the generated sidestream smoke particle concentrations were measured with two nephelometric aerosol monitors. With the developped sidestream smoke generation system we could produce in a short time and held stable different smoke concentrations from 0 to 32 ppm CO. The relationship between CO and particle concentrations was not linear.

Ziel 25: Gesundheit der arbeitenden Bevölkerung

ZusammenfassungBis zum Jahr 2000 sollte sich in allen Mitgliedstaaten durch Schaffung gesünderer Arbeits bedingungen, Einschränkung der arbeitsbedingten Krankheiten und Verletzungen sowie durch die Förderung des Wohlbefindens der arbeitenden Bevölkerung der Gesundheitszu stand der Arbeitnehmer verbessert haben.