Respiratory health disorders associated with occupational exposure to bioaerosols among workers in poultry breeding farms

Working in poultry farms revealed the exposure to chemical and biological emissions (bioaerosols) that might be related to respiratory diseases in the workers and an increased loss in lung function. The current study aimed to determine the respiratory health status among poultry farm workers and to monitor the biological and the environmental conditions at ten poultry farms in Egypt. It reported that the total dust, ammonia (NH 3 ), and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations in the studied poultry farms did not exceed the permissible exposure limits except farm V where NH 3 was slightly exceeded the recommended levels. 35.7% of the poultry farm workers had positive nose and throat culture (bacterial and fungal). The poultry farm workers had higher prevalence of cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath with lower mean values of spirometric measurements than the controls ( P < 0.05). Also, the positive culture poultry farm workers had significantly higher respiratory manifestations and lower spirometry values than negative culture ones ( P < 0.05). Therefore, intervention programs for reducing the exposure are amendatory point for the health and safety of poultry farm workers.