• Project number: F 2578
• Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
• Status: Ongoing Project
• Planned end: 2028-09-30

Description:

The change of livestock husbandry towards improved animal welfare, such as stables with free ventilation and open-air runs, leads to a changed exposure of workers to bioaerosols in the stables. In order to assess this exposure situation, collections of bioaerosols are carried out in freely ventilated pig and cattle barns. On the basis of these, lead parameters specific to the animal species in question are derived; quantified and the toxic potential of the biochemicals in question is estimated.

For this purpose, DNA and proteins are analysed from bioaerosols in order to draw conclusions about the microorganisms present. Quantitative analyses are being developed for DNA sequences and proteins that are specific to an animal species. In addition, mycotoxins from bioaerosols are measured. Microorganisms that only occur in cattle or pig barns are then cultured. Culture extracts, as well as extracts of the bioaerosols, will be tested in cell culture models for inhalation toxic potential.

This project will determine the exposure of workers in free-ventilation pig and cattle barns to bioaerosols and provide initial data that can be used for risk assessment in these workplaces.

This work is financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, granted by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE; grant number 28N206510).