Occupational exposure of goat farm workers to particulate matter and endotoxin

Goat farm workers are exposed to substantial levels of PM and endotoxins during routine work activities. On average, concentrations exceeded those reported for dairy cattle farm workers, yet remained lower than levels typically observed in pig and poultry farming. The observed considerable variation in exposure both between farms and among individual workers necessitates future research and more detailed microbiological characterization of air samples on determinants of exposure, to guide appropriate measures in husbandry and practices at goat farms. This research highlights that in emerging intensive livestock farming sectors, increased exposure to PM and endotoxins-and related health effects-can be expected among workers unless reduction of these exposures is explicitly addressed in the development of agricultural policies and practices.