Respiratory symptoms and lung functional impairments associated with occupational exposure to poultry house pollutants

Abstract

This study aimed to assess respiratory symptoms and the pulmonary function test (PFT) in a group of poultry workers. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was determined. Airborne concentrations of total and repairable dusts exceeded the threshold limit values. Gram-positive cocci and Cladosporium were the dominant genera of bacteria and fungi, respectively. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in the exposed subjects. Mean baseline values of forced expiratory volume (FEV₁), FEV₁ to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (FEV₁/FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were significantly lower in the exposed group. Significant cross-shift decrements were noted in vital capacity (VC), FVC, FEV₁, PEF and FEV₁/FVC of the exposed subjects. A dominant pattern of lung function abnormality was found to be obstructive. Exposure to poultry pollutants may result in a significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms as well as both acute reversible and chronic irreversible decrements in the PFT.

Keywords:

• poultry workers
• bioaerosols
• occupational exposure
• pulmonary function
• respiratory symptoms

Acknowledgements

The materials in this manuscript are taken from the thesis of Mr. Ebrahimi which has been undertaken under the supervision of Professor Masoud Neghab.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences [grant number 13104].