[Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in pig-farm workers]

A group of 59 swine farmers was studied to assess the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity changes. Among men there was a significantly higher prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms compared to the control workers. For female workers there was a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, dyspnea and chest tightness than in control workers. There was a high prevalence of acute symptoms during work shift among the swine confinement workers. Significant acute reductions were recorded for all ventilatory capacity tests being largest for FEF25 indicating obstructive changes mostly in smaller airways. All significantly lower ventilatory capacity data in male and FVC and FEV1 in women were found in comparison to predicted normal values. The results obtained indicate that exposure in swine confinement buildings may cause the development of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity abnormalities.