• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.402-411
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to assess the concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide according to task unit area at swine farms. Methods: A total of six swine farms were selected for this study. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were monitored using a real-time multi-gas monitor which could sample the gases simultaneously. The sampling was done in the pig building, manure storage facility and composting facility of each farm. Results: The concentration of ammonia in the pig buildings(GM 22.6 ppm, GSD 2.3) was significantly higher(p<0.0001) than in the manure storage facilities(GM 10.4 ppm, GSD 2.7) and composting facilities(GM 8.6 ppm, GSD 2.8). The concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the manure storage facilities(GM 9.8 ppm, GSD 3.2) was higher(p<0.0001) than in the pig buildings(GM 2.3 ppm, GSD 2.3) and composting facilities(GM 1.9 ppm, GSD 2.5). In particular, the levels of hydrogen sulfide in the confined manure storage facilities were higher than those in open-type facilities and the peak concentration(98 ppm) in the confined facilities was approximate to 100 ppm, at the value of Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health(IDLH). Conclusions: Suffocation accidents caused by hazardous gases at a swine farm have occurred annually. Real-time monitoring of the hazards should be done in order to protect farm workers and livestock from the sudden accidents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

Objectives: Endotoxins in dust generated in occupational settings is known to contribute to the occurrence of respiratory illness among workers. The relationship between the level of endotoxins in total dust or respirable particulates collected from swine farms and immunological markers related with respiratory allergy was evaluated among swine husbandry workers. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from ten workers at ten swine farms at Gyeonggi province, Korea. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin for 48 hours. The levels of various cytokines produced at culture supernatants were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. The concentration of particulate matter($PM_{10}$) in the indoor air of the swine farms was evaluated using a PVC membrane filter and mini volume air sampler, and endotoxin levels in the dust were measured by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Kinetic QCL method. Results: Levels of endotoxins in the total dust were categorized into high(geometric mean: $109.35EU/m^3$) and low concentrations (geometric mean: $0.95EU/m^3$) for five swine farms. Interleukin-4 levels were higher in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group, while interferon-${\gamma}$ levels were lower in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. The ratio (interferon-${\gamma}$ to interleukin-4), indicating immunologic skewedness against allergic reactivities, was lower in the high endotoxin group($1.15{\pm}0.60$) than the low endotoxin group($3.09{\pm}2.38$). In addition, the level of interleukin-13, another cytokine contributing to the occurrence of allergic responses, was significantly higher in the at the high endotoxin group($1.12{\pm}0.37ng/m{\ell}$) than in the low endotoxin group($0.37{\pm}0.04ng/m{\ell}$). Hematologic assessment showed significantly lower cellularity in the number of total leukocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. Conclusions: Even though a sufficient number of swine workers and farms were not investigated, this study generlly suggests that the immunological function of swine farm workers exposed to high levels of endotoxin could be modulated toward allergic reactivities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2020

Background: Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are harmful gases generated during aerobic/anaerobic bacterial decomposition of livestock manure. We evaluated ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations generated from workplaces at livestock farms and determined environmental factors influencing the gas concentrations. Methods: Five commercial swine farms and five poultry farms were selected for monitoring. Real-time monitors were used to measure the ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations and environmental conditions during the manure-handling processes. Monitoring was conducted in the manure storage facility and composting facility. Information on the farm conditions was also collected through interview and walk-through survey. Results: The ammonia concentrations were significantly higher at the swine composting facilities (9.5-43.2 ppm) than at other manure-handling facilities at the swine and poultry farms, and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were identified during the manure agitation and mixing process at the swine manure storage facilities (6.9-19.5 ppm). At the poultry manure-handling facilities, the ammonia concentration was higher during the manure-handling processes (2.6-57.9 ppm), and very low hydrogen sulfide concentrations (0-3.4 ppm) were detected. The air temperature and relative humidity, volume of the facility, duration of manure storage, and the number of animals influenced the gas concentrations. Conclusion: A high level of hazardous gases was generated during manure handling, and some levels increased up to risk levels that can threaten workers' health and safety. Some of the farm operational factors were also found to influence the gas levels. By controlling and improving these factors, it would be possible to protect workers' safety and health from occupational risks.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.182-188
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• 1999

This study was performed to determine the causes of the bursting casualties such as death of sows and piglets, abortion, still birth and infertility in a pig farm after consecutive detonation for three months to construct 345 KV in Kimje area. 1. Temperatures in Kimje district, management condition, microorganism in the feed, inbreeding, hematological conditions, and viral agent causing abortion were not proved as the factors of acute occurrence of abortion and infertility in the pig farm. 2. The amount of explosive was increased from 250 kg to 1,100 kg from 23 Dec. 1996 to 28 Jan. 1997 and at the same time the distance between the spot of detonation and the pig farm got closer, from 200 m at the begining to 100 m at the last detonation. 3. Theoretical concussion and sound values were 0.66 kine and 89.39 ㏈, respectively, in the case of 100 m distance between the detonation spot and the pig farm. In conclusion, death of 675 piglets and 11 sows and infertility of 69 sows in the pig farm were assumed to be caused by the concussion or sound stress after detonation.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.233-246
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• 2017

This study was conducted to improve the score of HACCP evaluation items in pig farm. The importance and score of each HACCP evaluation item was derived through the non-compliance rate and severity of hazard. The total score of evaluation items of the pre-requisite section was 200 points and the HACCP section was developed to have a total of 100 points. Implementation of the result of this study to pig farm may help to improve more safety and hygienic pig production. With the result of this study, it is expected that the propose of HACCP system implementation in pig farm will be achieved.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.381-388
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• 1999

These investigations were performed to determine the causes of the reproductive disorders of the sows in a pig farm which was located at the distance 36m away from the detonation spot. The reproductive problems of the sows such as abortion and infertility occurred after consecutive detonation and use of heavy equipments to build 6 piers of the bridge for the expressway between Jinju and Taeieon during the period from July 1997 to October 1998. 1. The management condition of the farm, microorganism in the feed, inbreeding, hematological conditions, and viral agent causing abortion were not proved as the factors of the occurrence of abortion and infertility in the pig farm. 2. Theoretical concussion values according to the average amount of explosive per detonation were 1.16 kine for minimum amount (3.6 kg) and 3.45 kine for maximum amount(12.5 kg) of explosive, and the theoretical sound values were accordingly 92.29 decibel for minimum amount and 101.76 decibel for maximum amount of explosive, respectively, in the case of 36m distance between the detonation spot and pig farm. The frequency of detonation in a day was 7 times with interval of 15 minutes. 3. The occurence of infertility in the farm was 57.3% during the period of construction from July 1997 to August 1998. 4. In comparison of body weight of piglets between the damaged and not damaged farms, growth of piglets at the damaged farm was shown to be delayed over 30 days than those of not-damaged farm. In conclusion, abortion of 40 sows, delivery of whole still births of 22 sows, and infertility of 122 sows in the pig farm were assumed to be caused by the concussion or sound stress after consecutive detonation and use of heavy equipments.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.567-575
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• 1989

This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of application of a microenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(micro-ELISA) for the serodiagnosis of specific toxoplasma antibodies in swine sera and this test was performed as a microplate system by coating the polystyrene plates with toxoplasma soluble antigen, incubated serially diluted sera, then added horse radish peroxidase labelled goat anti-swine IgG(r) conjugate followed by o-phenylenediamine as substrate. The color development by enzyme-substrate reaction was determined by the photometric reading [ELISA reader at 490nm (OD)] and visual reading. The soluble antigen was prepared from the tachyzoites in mouse peritoneal cavity. A total of 1,200 swine sera from pig slaughter-house and a total of 116 swine sera from pig breeding station (S-C farm) were tested for the detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The optimal reactions of indirect ELISA for the test sera were determined by the dilution of antigen 1:256 and 1:3,200 of horse radish peroxidase conjugate [anti-swine IgG(r)]. 2. The specific togoplasma antibody(IgG) in pigs infected with Tp artificially were detected as the serum titers of 1:64 or 1:128 at one week postinfection. 3. Of a total of 1,200 swine sera from pig slaughter-house 505 samples of sera were detected as positive (42.1%) and of a total of 116 swine sera from S-C pig breeding station 68 samples of sera as positive (58.6%). 4. The specific antibody(IgG) detection rates against a total of 1,200 test sera from pig slaughter-house were not significant between male (43.1%) and female (40.7%). 5. The indirect ELISA was proved to be a sensitive and specific procedure for the serodiagnosis of swine toxoplasmosis and also evaluated as an effective screening test for the large scale of test samples in laboratory.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.392-396
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• 2010

This study was conducted to examine the effect of HACCP implementation on the cost of medicine use, antibiotic utilization, and productivity of swine in Korea. Data were collected from forty-five swine farms before and after implementation of a HACCP system. The cost of medicine used, the number of different antibiotics used and the number of feeds containing antibiotic supplements added at the feed company tended to be lower (p>0.05) after HACCP implementation. Additionally, the number of feeds containing antibiotics supplemented at the farm was significantly lower after HACCP implementation (p<0.05). Moreover, the number of piglets born per sow per year and pigs marketed per sow per year were higher after HACCP implementation (22.0, 20.0) than before HACCP implementation (20.4, 18.9). These results suggest that implementation of HACCP systems on swine farms may provide beneficial effects such as reduction of medical expenses and improved productivity, as well as increased safety of livestock products for consumers.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2002

This study aims to study the effect of HRT and influent concentration on swine wastewater treatment using UASB(Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket). Sample was separately collected from the piggery farm; urine(liquid part) and solid part to compare their treatment characteristics. Reactors were used two UASB(3.2 L) in this research under constant temperature ($35^{\circ}C$). Their operating conditions were as follows; Run 1(UASB ; HRT 6-days, 1 cycle/d), Run 2(UASB ; HRT 3-days, 1 cycle/d). Biogas was collected and analyzed using GC(HP-6890). By comparing the results of Run 1 and Run 2, the effect of HRT was investigated. The treatment efficiency of Run 1 which had longer HRT was higher than that of Run 2 in both solid and liquid parts of piggery sample. Methane content in collected biogas is more than 80%.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.413-424
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to seek measures for improvement and management of farm work safety and health by conducting questionnaire surveys and on-site investigations to ascertain the present state of occurrence of safety accidents and safety and health management levels among swine farmers. In particular, the purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the establishment of measures for the management of safety and health suitable to the characteristics of related working environments. Methods: Questionnaire surveys were conducted among 223 farmers engaged in swine farming in 14 regions, and 10 farms were visited in order to implement multilateral methods, including in-depth interviews, along with field surveys. Results: The surveys indicated that 26.2% of all respondents experienced farm-work related safety accidents and body-reaction related accidents showed a high ratio at 31.1% of all respondents. With regard to cause materials of safety accidents, work other than that directly related to swine raising showed high ratios of safety accidents, with pigsty facility related accidents at 26.6%. Although most workers recognized the dangers latent in the working environments, their behavior and responses to the prevention of safety accidents were still insufficient due to a lack of understanding of safety and health management. In the survey on the present state of personal hygiene and wearing of protective equipment, workers were found to have been exposed to dangerous and harmful environments both inside and outside pigsties, but the actual states of their wearing protective safety equipment were very poor. Conclusion: Given the results of this study, swine farmers well recognize problems in their control of safety accidents and management of safety and health, but their knowledge about safety and health education and management guidelines was insufficient. Therefore, safety and health education, public relations, and customized personal protective equipment suitable for swine raising work should be developed in order to address the foregoing problem.