Marie-Thérèse Guillam

Endotoxin concentration in poultry houses for laying hens kept in cages or in alternative housing systems

1. Endotoxins as components of organic dust may have adverse effects on the respiratory health of workers in poultry buildings. The move towards more welfare-friendly housing systems for layers may increase worker exposure to air contaminants due to the use of litter. 2. The endotoxin concentrations in the inhalable fraction of airborne dust (below 100 µm) from cage and alternative system houses (on-floor, free range and aviaries) were compared under both experimental and commercial conditions. 3. The endotoxin concentration was higher in experimental aviaries (median: 565 EU/m3, range: 362-1491 EU/m3) than in cage housing (98 EU/m3 (51-470)). 4. In field conditions, the endotoxin concentration in the air of 13 alternative houses was higher (35 to 3156 EU/m3) than in cage system buildings (n = 8, 78-576 EU/m3). It was correlated to the respirable dust concentration (fraction below 5 µm) and to the temperature inside the hen house but no seasonal variation was observed. 5. The present study emphasises that considerable worker exposure to endotoxins may occur in laying houses, especially in alternative systems.

Children's Indoor Leisure Activities in France: Time Budget Data for Indoor Air Risk Assessment

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the time spent by children (0– 18 years old) in indoor places of leisure and also day-care centers. The sampling scheme was stratified by geographic region and size of town. This study was performed from September 2005 to March 2006. Families were asked to complete a diary by phone on their childrens activities during the last week of school and the last week of a vacation period. The time spent in each place was then extrapolated for the winter period. We then evaluated the overall attendance and time (means and quartiles) spent by all of the children, and by those of children attending places. Information was collected on 2780 children. Gymnasiums were frequented the most (52.3% during the winter period) and were the places in which children spend the greatest amount of time (average: 19 min/day). Other places frequented the most included bars/restaurants (46.5%; average: 9 min/day), cinemas/theaters (42.2%; average: 10 min/day), and indoor pools (25.4%; average: 12 min/day). Our results should help in the prioritization of specific projects investigating exposure in children during indoor leisure activities and the evaluation of the risks associated with air pollutants in these places.

Dust exposure and health of workers in duck hatcheries

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate dust exposure and respiratory health of workers in duck hatcheries in western France. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety volunteer workers, who work in sorting rooms and/or incubation rooms, participated in exposure assessments and medical examinations. Medical examinations were performed by occupational health practitioners.They filled-in a questionnaire with the workers, followed by a lung function test on each worker. General characteristics and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms were described in each type of working rooms. Associations between symptoms and exposure (working room or dust level) were studied in GEE multivariate models. RESULTS Overall prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm) and chronic bronchitis were similar or lower than in the reference population. However, prevalence of these symptoms was higher for those working in sorting rooms, that were associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. Respirable dust was also significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis were well above those in the reference population, but did not vary among working rooms. Descriptive data suggested an occupational origin for some cases. CONCLUSIONS Hatchery workers were at increased risk of compromised respiratory health due to dust exposure, particularly those who work in sorting rooms. Asthma and rhinitis were in excess in this population of workers. Thorough clinical examination of these workers should be performed and all exposures assessed.