Aspergillus and other human respiratory disease agents in turkey confinement houses

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Occupational Health
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Turkey confinement operations can generate significant airborne contaminants.
• Farm workers face potential respiratory hazards from these contaminants.
• Understanding seasonal variations is crucial for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess airborne contaminant levels in a turkey confinement house over one year.
• To evaluate the potential health risks to farm workers.
• To identify seasonal patterns in contaminant concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Air sampling for total and respirable dust, ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, methane, and Aspergillus.
• Year-round monitoring of a large Minnesota turkey farm.
• Analysis of inter- and intra-seasonal variations.

Main Results:

• Dust and ammonia concentrations were highest in winter, averaging 9.3 mg/m³ and 35 ppm, respectively.
• Ammonia levels exceeded 100 ppm during house tilling.
• Aspergillus levels were consistently below 73 cfu/m³.
• Carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, and methane were below detectable limits.

Conclusions:

• Seasonal variations significantly impact airborne contaminant levels in turkey confinement houses.
• High ammonia levels, especially during tilling, represent a significant occupational hazard.
• While Aspergillus was monitored, its levels were not a primary concern in this study.