A NIOSH-indexed study measured inhalable dust and endotoxin among cattle-feedlot workers and found airway obstruction in a portion of workers, concluding that feedlot workers may be at risk for occupational airways disease.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Dust and endotoxin exposure in cattle feedlot and grain elevator/feed mill workers ↗Dust entry
Cattle-feedlot organic dust
Organic dust and endotoxin-containing particulate measured in cattle feedlot work.
Airborne form
dust
The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.
Health effects
airway obstructionoccupational airway disease riskrespiratory irritationlung-function effectsendotoxin exposure concernrhinitissinusitisasthmachronic bronchitischronic obstructive pulmonary diseasehypersensitivity pneumonitisorganic dust toxic syndrome
Evidence
A NIOSH-indexed study found gram-negative bacterial activity in every airborne and settled dust sample from swine and poultry confinement units and concluded that animal-confinement employees face a potential occupational respiratory health risk.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: A brief report of gram-negative bacterial endotoxin levels in airborne and settled dusts in animal confinement buildings ↗A NIOSH-indexed review of large-animal confinement environments links complex organic dust, endotoxins, peptidoglycans, microbes, and gases with rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and organic dust toxic syndrome.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Respiratory health effects of large animal farming environments ↗Controls
- dust suppression
- ventilation
- exposure monitoring
- respiratory protection
- medical surveillance