NIOSH reports that chopping hay or straw for dairy bedding can release bacteria and fungi and cause acute and chronic respiratory disease; adding water reduced airborne organic-dust exposure by 80% in the cited control study.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Engineering Controls — Organic Dusts from Bedding Choppers in Dairy Barns ↗CDC/NIOSH: HC12 — Control of Organic Dusts from Bedding Choppers in Dairy Barns ↗Dust entry
Dairy-bedding organic dust
Organic dust released when hay or straw bales are chopped for dairy-cow bedding, including dust containing microorganisms and endotoxins.
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
asthmachronic bronchitishypersensitivity pneumonitisorganic dust toxic syndromesystemic respiratory effects
Evidence
Controls
- wet chopping
- substitution of less-contaminated hay
- barn ventilation
- exposure monitoring
- appropriate respiratory protection