Comparison of Dust Exposure Levels among Farmers with and without Feeding

Objectives: The principal purpose of this study is to statistically compare dust levels among farmers with and without feeding in a nursery pig building. Methods: Total dust and respirable dust were measured by personal sampling method, and TSP and PM10 were monitored by the direct recording method in the pig building. Results: IIn the personal samples, mean exposure levels of total and respirable dust were higher among the farmers who conducted feeding compared to farmers who did not. A significant difference between farmers with feeding and farmers without feeding was found in total dust concentration(p<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in respirable dust concentrations. In real-time monitoring of dust based on area sampling, the highest levels of total and respirable dust were detected in the feeding time periods; $4.33{\pm}2.57mg/m^3$ for TSP and $2.53{\pm}1.02mg/m^3$ for PM10, respectively. During time periods without feeding, the levels of total and respirable dust ranged from 1 to $2mg/m^3$ and from 0.5 to $1.5mg/m^3$, respectively. Conclusions: In terms of association of feeding work and air sampling location, the mean concentrations of total and respirable dust were highest in area sampling with feeding and lowest in personal sampling without feeding. However, a significant difference among groups investigated according to air sampling condition was found in total dust.

사료 급이 유무에 따른 돈사 작업자의 분진 노출량 비교