TY - JOUR
T1 - Airborne cow allergen, ammonia and particulate matter at homes vary with distance to industrial scale dairy operations
T2 - An exposure assessment
AU - Williams, D'Ann L.
AU - Breysse, Patrick N.
AU - McCormack, Meredith C.
AU - Diette, Gregory B.
AU - McKenzie, Shawn
AU - Geyh, Alison S.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Dr. Beti Thompson, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Washington, The Center for Hispanic Health Promotion, Sunnyside Washington, the locally established researchers and Spanish speaking field staff for their assistance with this study. In addition we would like to thank Timothy Green, Jana Mihalic and Christine Torrey for laboratory support, sample analysis and their contributions to the study. This research was supported by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (PO1ES09606), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (POR-826724), and the Johns Hopkins NIEHS Center in Urban Environmental Health (P30ES03819).
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: Community exposures to environmental contaminants from industrial scale dairy operations are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of dairy operations on nearby communities by assessing airborne contaminants (particulate matter, ammonia, and cow allergen, Bos d 2) associated with dairy operations inside and outside homes. Methods. The study was conducted in 40 homes in the Yakima Valley, Washington State where over 61 dairies operate. Results: A concentration gradient was observed showing that airborne contaminants are significantly greater at homes within one-quarter mile (0.4 km) of dairy facilities, outdoor Bos d 2, ammonia, and TD were 60, eight, and two times higher as compared to homes greater than three miles (4.8 km) away. In addition median indoor airborne Bos d 2 and ammonia concentrations were approximately 10 and two times higher in homes within one-quarter mile (0.4 km) compared to homes greater than three miles (4.8 km) away. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that dairy operations increase community exposures to agents with known human health effects. This study also provides evidence that airborne biological contaminants (i.e. cow allergen) associated with airborne particulate matter are statistically elevated at distances up to three miles (4.8 km) from dairy operations.
AB - Background: Community exposures to environmental contaminants from industrial scale dairy operations are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of dairy operations on nearby communities by assessing airborne contaminants (particulate matter, ammonia, and cow allergen, Bos d 2) associated with dairy operations inside and outside homes. Methods. The study was conducted in 40 homes in the Yakima Valley, Washington State where over 61 dairies operate. Results: A concentration gradient was observed showing that airborne contaminants are significantly greater at homes within one-quarter mile (0.4 km) of dairy facilities, outdoor Bos d 2, ammonia, and TD were 60, eight, and two times higher as compared to homes greater than three miles (4.8 km) away. In addition median indoor airborne Bos d 2 and ammonia concentrations were approximately 10 and two times higher in homes within one-quarter mile (0.4 km) compared to homes greater than three miles (4.8 km) away. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that dairy operations increase community exposures to agents with known human health effects. This study also provides evidence that airborne biological contaminants (i.e. cow allergen) associated with airborne particulate matter are statistically elevated at distances up to three miles (4.8 km) from dairy operations.
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U2 - 10.1186/1476-069X-10-72
DO - 10.1186/1476-069X-10-72
M3 - Article
C2 - 21838896
AN - SCOPUS:80051584402
SN - 1476-069X
VL - 10
JO - Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source
JF - Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source
IS - 1
M1 - 72
ER -