2016/01/01 by Nathalie Rousset, Rousset, Nathalie, Adeline Huneau‐Salaün +7
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Aviary #Dust #Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock #Laying hens #Poules pondeuses #Poussières #Respiratory health #Santé respiratoire #Volière
paper · doi:10.15454/1.462278336881796e12
openalex publication_date 2016/01/01 · openalex created_date 2024/08/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Air of livestock buildings is a complex environment consisting of gas, dust and bioaerosols. It represents the first parameter controlled through ventilation. The air quality has a direct impact on the health and performance of animals but also on the respiratory health of farmers. In addition, the air quality represents a major challenge for the environment, emission of particles and ammonia (NH3) causing acidification of surrounding ecosystems and transmission of pathogenic airborne dust. The AIRPOUL study was designed to assess the quality of ambient air, in particular the level of dust in the various systems of rearing laying hens in France, and its impact on the health of farmers. The epidemiological component of the study, initiated in 2006, aimed at characterizing exposure of breeders of laying hens to dust and influencing livestock factors and assessing its impact on respiratory health. At the end of two measurement periods (2006-2011), results showed a degradation of the quality of the air in the breedingground, cages and aviaries from those in conventional cages now banned in the European Union. The medical results showed that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher than those observed in the general population. They also confirmed that the more the farmer was exposed to dust, the more the risk of chronic respiratory symptoms increased. Increased awareness to potential exposure sources and to ways to be protected is therefore necessary. The study identifies the activities and places of high exposure and therefore at risk for the health of the breeder. The analysis of farming practices also identified the issues to limit concentration of dust in buildings and therefore exposure of farmers.