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Health Hazards in Swine Confinement Housing
How Bad is Bad?
-------------------------------------------
ISU Extension Pub #: Pm-1588
Authors: Jay D. Harmon and Hongwei Xin
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University
Date: 2/95
Contaminant Chemical Odor Recommend Level
Formula for Swine
Ammonia NH3 sharp, pungent 10 ppm
Hydrogen Sulfide H2S rotten egg smell, 5 ppm
nauseating
Carbon Dioxide CO2 none 3000 ppm
Carbon Monoxide CO none 50 ppm
Dust --- none 10 mg/m3
Any one exposure can be harmful. Combinations of contaminants, even at low levels, may be harmful.
Ammonia
Sources: Urine (urea) drying on solid floors, slats, and in scraper gutters
Possible Solutions:
*
prevent manure from drying, i.e. keep manure in solution through pit recharge
* if associated with deep pit, increase pit ventilation
Human Effects:
* 10 to 15 ppm irritates nose and eyes (wet body
parts)
* may irritate bronchis: bronchitis
* may irritate bronchioles: asthma
* may cause long term deep lung effects
Hydrogen Sulfide
Sources: produced during anaerobic degeneration of
manure, especially present with deep pits, can be deadly
during pit agitation.
Possible Solutions:
* dilute manure
* proper pit ventilation
* agitate with all fans running
* NEVER enter a building while agitating pit
* agitate with animals removed
* store manure outside if possible
Human Effects:
* 1 to 5 ppm: rotten egg smell
* 50 to 100 ppm: olfactory paralysis (can not be smelled)
* > 100 ppm: rhinitis (runny eyes)
* 100 to 150 ppm: bronchitis (dry cough)
*
200 to 500 ppm: headaches, dizziness, nausea, pneumonitis and pulmonary edema (symptoms like pneumonia, or in hogs like TB)
* > 1000 ppm: rapid respiratory arrest, death (1 to 3 breaths)
Carbon Dioxide
Sources: exhalation and unvented heaters
Possible Solutions: increase ventilation rate
Human Effects:
* 30,000 ppm: increased breathing rate, headaches
and drowsiness
* 300,000 ppm: possibly fatal
Carbon Monoxide
Sources: improperly adjusted unvented space heaters or gas radiant heaters
Possible Solutions: clean and properly adjust all heaters
Human Effects:
* may cause death
* lingers in blood stream
* gestating sows may abort when exposed to levels of 200 ppm
Dust
Sources: dried fecal matter, feed, animal hair, animal skin, bacteria
Possible Solutions:
* keep building clean
* prevent manure from drying
* use feed drops and feeder lids
* use pelleted feed or add fat to feed
Human Effects:
* respiratory irritation, especially with particles less that 10 microns
* respirable dust operates as a conveyance mechanism for pathogens
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