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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Effective Analysis of Human Exposure Conditions with Body-worn Dosimeters in the 2.4 GHz Band
Published on: May 2, 2018
Occupational noise exposure assessment in intensive swine farrowing systems: dosimetry, octave band, and specific
Michael J Humann1, Kelly J Donham, Martin L Jones
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA 52242-5000, USA, michael-humann@uiowa.edu
Abstract:
The scientific literature is lacking in published agricultural noise assessments for employees of swine confinement facilities that have included dosimeter data, octave band analysis, or specific task exposure assessments. This study reports on the former three types of noise assessments in the farrowing stage of swine. Dosimeter data on workers revealed all assessments to be greater than 90 decibels measured on the A-scale (dBA), which exceeds the 85 dBA National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL). RELs were exceeded for all of the employees monitored in the swine facility, as well as the part-time employees who power-washed the farrowing rooms. The recorded time-weighted values were actually underestimated slightly because the dosimeters were set to record only noise at 85 dBA and higher.
