protect his lungs in the chicken coop

It is vital for poultry farmers, their employees and their families to always take adequate protective measures.

I don’t always wear a mask when I enter the coop. I know I should, but it’s inconvenient if I’m only doing short-term work and when dust levels are low in the herd. These are the words of a poultry farmer who asked not to be named, and many poultry farmers in Canada would probably agree if asked how often they wear masks because they are bad for their health.

In short, poultry farmers need to remember that the poultry house environment contains many hazardous components and it is important for them, their families and staff to use the proper respirator. “Lung damage from particulate matter can be cumulative and irreversible, but even a single exposure can cause severe permanent damage,” explains Jessica De Leo, a registered respiratory therapist with the Lung Association road. “Prevention is critical. Strict protocols have to be in place. I’m located in northern Alberta and many of my patients are farmers. There’s a lot of lung disease here.

In general, poor air quality can cause poultry farmers to experience a variety of symptoms, including sore throats, eye irritation, wheezing and shortness of breath. Severe respiratory diseases that may result include chronic bronchitis, occupational asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Dust is obviously a big hazard. Air in poultry houses may contain feed particles, manure, litter, feathers, decomposed poultry skin cells, as well as fungi, toxins, fungal spores, bacteria and other microorganisms. It also contains known asthma-causing agents. As breeders know, ammonia is especially prevalent in winter and can be especially harmful to health during periods when ventilation is at its lowest.

That’s what happens when dust enters a person’s lungs, according to the U.S. Centers for Respiratory Health. The dust penetrates into the small alveoli of the lungs, where the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange takes place and whose surface prevents it from entering the blood. However, our lungs also contain immune cells called macrophages, which remove dust particles from the alveoli and, with the help of cilia, push them into the upper airway for coughing. In the event of inhalation of large amounts of dust, any particles not collected and processed by macrophages can accumulate in tissues, causing irreversible damage. According to the University of Delaware’s “Respiratory Health in Poultry Farms” report, chicken dust “also contains what’s called endotoxins, which are toxins from Gram-negative bacteria.” “These inflammatory substances cause a flu-like toxin fever. Symptoms include headache, nausea, cough, nasal irritation, chest tightness, and phlegm. Endotoxins are the cause of many acute and chronic work-related illnesses.

The article also identifies the many factors that affect dust concentrations in poultry houses, including age of birds and litter, temperature, humidity, ventilation level, time of day, and bird activity. “Respiratory protection becomes even more important when dust levels in the house increase, such as during cold weather, reduced ventilation, litter accumulation, and during the growing season.”

adequate personal protection

Poultry farmers need to protect themselves, their families and, of course, their employees. As the employer, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to provide operators with the correct respirator and ensure it is worn correctly.

Children, pregnant women and the elderly are at increased risk of acute inflammatory responses to poor air quality and are also susceptible to acute diseases such as asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and infection with avian influenza. “Even a single exposure can lead to scarring, chronic diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and permanent damage,” DeLeo said. “Because children have smaller airways, their reactions can be very rapid and severe. It is very important that even if they or anyone else only goes to the coop once a week for half an hour each time, they still wear appropriate protective clothing. “

A validated disposable N95 mask is the minimum requirement for a chicken coop visit. “It had to be airtight, so it had to be adjustable in size and fit the face and head properly,” says De Leo. “Adults should take an aptitude test every two years because your appearance changes as you age. They should use it if it’s going to be going into the coop for a long time, removing dead birds, cleaning, etc. Handling with clean hands etc.

In fact, it takes a lot of training to ensure proper fit while maintaining hygiene for masks to actually work. Masks must be inspected before each use, and filters must be replaced regularly. Filter life is limited by hygienic (or unsanitary) handling, damage and clogging (marked by increased breathing resistance). Anyone with heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or other chronic lung disease should consult a doctor before using a mask.

Outside of the coop, don’t forget that there are air quality hazards like dust in the field too, so don’t forget to wear a mask when harvesting, applying crop protection products, and other appropriate times.

As for what prevents keepers from providing proper protection in the coop, Del Rio says it can take up a lot of their time and be a hassle. “However, I strongly urge anyone reading this to consider protecting their lungs as part of farm life, and to do so every time,” he said. “People don’t really understand or accept the level of risk involved, even with exposure. The lung damage is irreversible. We don’t think chicken coops are dusty, we can’t actually see the particles there, when we can’t see It’s easy to overlook something when it’s something. Please don’t neglect your lung health.”

Chief executive Terry Dean said the Canadian Lung Association may launch a lung health awareness campaign among farmers. “We want to raise awareness of the consequences of not protecting lung health, as many of these diseases are preventable and are driven by the environment,” he said. “We now have more personal protective equipment than ever, and it’s important to use it when we need it. Making protection an automatic habit is the best way to protect lung health.”

Trena Hine
Canadian Poultry, 109:4, 24-27

Tags: Bird Health Human Health