Indoor distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria in pig buildings as influenced by season and housing type.

Objective: A concentration of airborne bacteria generated from swine houses is recognized to be relatively higher than other work places and it is essential to optimally manage it to prevent farmers' respiratory diseases. This study was conducted to assess the distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria in swine houses located at South Korea.

Methods: A total 27 pig buildings of the enclosed type operated with mechanical ventilation system by a side wall fan and deep-pit manure system with slats were surveyed.

Assessment of Korean farmer's exposure level to dust in pig buildings.

The purpose of the study was to assess Korean farmer's exposure level to dust in pig buildings and dust emissions by investigating airborne concentrations of total and respirable dust. Five main types of pig buildings operating currently in Korea were selected. For area air sampling, 30 sites per each building type were visited during spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) seasons.

Odor reduction rate in the confinement pig building by spraying various additives.

The objective of this on-site experiment was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of currently utilized various additives, i.e. tap water, salt water, digested manure, microbial additive, soybean oil, artificial spice and essential oil, to reduce odor emissions from the confinement pig building.

Effect of manual feeding on the level of farmer's exposure to airborne contaminants in the confinement nursery pig house.

The objective of the study is to demonstrate an effect of manual feeding on the level of farmer's exposure to airborne contaminants in the confinement nursery pig house. The levels of all the airborne contaminants besides respirable dust, total airborne fungi and ammonia were significantly higher in the treated nursery pig house with feeding than the control nursery pig house without feeding. Although there is no significant difference in respirable dust and total airborne fungi between the treatment and the control, their concentrations in the treated nursery pig house were also higher than the control nursery pig house.

Influence of extreme seasons on airborne pollutant levels in a pig-confinement building.

Understanding airborne pollutant levels in a pig-confinement building in seasons with extreme weather (ie, summer and winter) is important for managing air quality, which affects the health of farmers and others in the neighboring environment. The authors evaluated airborne pollutants-total dust, total airborne bacteria, and total airborne gram-negative bacteria-which had higher concentrations in summer than in winter, and concentrations of respirable dust, gaseous pollutants, and total airborne fungi, which were lower in summer than in winter. The authors found significant differences between summer and winter measurements for respirable dust and gaseous pollutants (p < .

Quantification of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emitted from pig buildings in Korea.

The aim of this field study was to determine the concentrations and emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in different types of pig buildings in Korea to allow objective comparison between pig housing types in Korea and other countries. Concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the pig buildings averaged 7.5ppm and 286.

Effect of ventilation rate on gradient of aerial contaminants in the confinement pig building.

The principal aim of this study was to compare the aerial contaminants concentrations between the levels of ventilation rate and determine the variation pattern of aerial contaminants affected by the ventilation rate. As a result, there was not significant difference in total dust and total airborne microorganisms among three levels of ventilation rate (P>0.05) whereas the increased ventilation rate lowered the levels of respirable dust and gaseous compounds (P<0.