Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents

Myrna M T de Rooij; Hans J Erbrink; Lidwien A M Smit; Inge M Wouters; Gerard Hoek; Dick J J Heederik

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.117821

Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents

Myrna M T de Rooij^*, Hans J Erbrink, Lidwien A M Smit, Inge M Wouters, Gerard Hoek, Dick J J Heederik

^*Corresponding author for this work

Erbrink Advies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the public health relevance of exposure to livestock farm emissions is increasing. Research mostly focused on chemical air pollution, less on microbial exposure, while endotoxins are suggested relevant bacterial components in farm emissions. Acute respiratory health effects of short-term exposure to livestock-related air pollution has been shown for NH 3 and PM 10, but has not yet been studied for endotoxin. We aimed to assess associations between lung function and short-term exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin in co-pollutant models with NH 3 and PM 10.

METHODS: In 2014/2015, spirometry was conducted in 2308 non-farming residents living in a rural area in the Netherlands. Residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin during the week prior to spirometry was estimated by dispersion modelling. The model was applied to geo-located individual barns within 10 km of each home address using provincial farm data and local hourly meteorological conditions. Regional week-average measured concentrations of NH 3 and PM 10 were obtained through monitoring stations. Lung function parameters (FEV 1, FVC, FEV 1/FVC, MMEF) were expressed in %-predicted value based on GLI-2012. Exposure-response analyses were performed by linear regression modelling.

RESULTS: Week-average endotoxin exposure was negatively associated with FVC, independently from regional NH 3 and PM 10 exposure. A 1.1% decline in FVC was estimated for an increase of endotoxin exposure from 10th to 90th percentile. Stratified analyses showed a larger decline (3.2%) for participants with current asthma and/or COPD. FEV 1 was negatively associated with week-average endotoxin exposure, but less consistent after co-pollutant adjustment. FEV 1/FVC and MMEF were not associated with week-average endotoxin exposure.

CONCLUSIONS: Lower lung function in non-farming residents was observed in relation to short-term residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin. This study indicates the probable relevance of exposure to microbial emissions from livestock farms considering public health besides chemical air pollution, necessitating future research incorporating both.

Original language	English
Article number	117821
Number of pages	9
Journal	Environmental Research
Volume	243
Early online date	9 Dec 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.117821
Publication status	Published - 15 Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Utrecht University

Funding

The study was funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management; the Province of Noord-Brabant; the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands; and supported by a grant from the Lung Foundation Netherlands ( 3.2.11.022 ).The funders were not involved in designing the study, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing of the article, nor the decision to publish.

Funders	Funder number
Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Lung Foundation Netherlands	3.2.11.022
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

Keywords

Air pollution
Emissions
Endotoxin
Livestock farming
Public health
Respiratory health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.envres.2023.117821Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

1-s2.0-S0013935123026257-mainFinal published version, 3.08 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Evidence on the public health relevance of exposure to livestock farm emissions is increasing. Research mostly focused on chemical air pollution, less on microbial exposure, while endotoxins are suggested relevant bacterial components in farm emissions. Acute respiratory health effects of short-term exposure to livestock-related air pollution has been shown for NH 3 and PM 10, but has not yet been studied for endotoxin. We aimed to assess associations between lung function and short-term exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin in co-pollutant models with NH 3 and PM 10. METHODS: In 2014/2015, spirometry was conducted in 2308 non-farming residents living in a rural area in the Netherlands. Residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin during the week prior to spirometry was estimated by dispersion modelling. The model was applied to geo-located individual barns within 10 km of each home address using provincial farm data and local hourly meteorological conditions. Regional week-average measured concentrations of NH 3 and PM 10 were obtained through monitoring stations. Lung function parameters (FEV 1, FVC, FEV 1/FVC, MMEF) were expressed in %-predicted value based on GLI-2012. Exposure-response analyses were performed by linear regression modelling. RESULTS: Week-average endotoxin exposure was negatively associated with FVC, independently from regional NH 3 and PM 10 exposure. A 1.1% decline in FVC was estimated for an increase of endotoxin exposure from 10th to 90th percentile. Stratified analyses showed a larger decline (3.2%) for participants with current asthma and/or COPD. FEV 1 was negatively associated with week-average endotoxin exposure, but less consistent after co-pollutant adjustment. FEV 1/FVC and MMEF were not associated with week-average endotoxin exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Lower lung function in non-farming residents was observed in relation to short-term residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin. This study indicates the probable relevance of exposure to microbial emissions from livestock farms considering public health besides chemical air pollution, necessitating future research incorporating both.",

keywords = "Air pollution, Emissions, Endotoxin, Livestock farming, Public health, Respiratory health",

author = "{de Rooij}, {Myrna M T} and Erbrink, {Hans J} and Smit, {Lidwien A M} and Wouters, {Inge M} and Gerard Hoek and Heederik, {Dick J J}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Utrecht University",

year = "2024",

month = feb,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.envres.2023.117821",

language = "English",

volume = "243",

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T1 - Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents

AU - de Rooij, Myrna M T

AU - Erbrink, Hans J

AU - Smit, Lidwien A M

AU - Wouters, Inge M

AU - Hoek, Gerard

AU - Heederik, Dick J J

PY - 2024/2/15

Y1 - 2024/2/15

N2 - BACKGROUND: Evidence on the public health relevance of exposure to livestock farm emissions is increasing. Research mostly focused on chemical air pollution, less on microbial exposure, while endotoxins are suggested relevant bacterial components in farm emissions. Acute respiratory health effects of short-term exposure to livestock-related air pollution has been shown for NH 3 and PM 10, but has not yet been studied for endotoxin. We aimed to assess associations between lung function and short-term exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin in co-pollutant models with NH 3 and PM 10. METHODS: In 2014/2015, spirometry was conducted in 2308 non-farming residents living in a rural area in the Netherlands. Residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin during the week prior to spirometry was estimated by dispersion modelling. The model was applied to geo-located individual barns within 10 km of each home address using provincial farm data and local hourly meteorological conditions. Regional week-average measured concentrations of NH 3 and PM 10 were obtained through monitoring stations. Lung function parameters (FEV 1, FVC, FEV 1/FVC, MMEF) were expressed in %-predicted value based on GLI-2012. Exposure-response analyses were performed by linear regression modelling. RESULTS: Week-average endotoxin exposure was negatively associated with FVC, independently from regional NH 3 and PM 10 exposure. A 1.1% decline in FVC was estimated for an increase of endotoxin exposure from 10th to 90th percentile. Stratified analyses showed a larger decline (3.2%) for participants with current asthma and/or COPD. FEV 1 was negatively associated with week-average endotoxin exposure, but less consistent after co-pollutant adjustment. FEV 1/FVC and MMEF were not associated with week-average endotoxin exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Lower lung function in non-farming residents was observed in relation to short-term residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin. This study indicates the probable relevance of exposure to microbial emissions from livestock farms considering public health besides chemical air pollution, necessitating future research incorporating both.

AB - BACKGROUND: Evidence on the public health relevance of exposure to livestock farm emissions is increasing. Research mostly focused on chemical air pollution, less on microbial exposure, while endotoxins are suggested relevant bacterial components in farm emissions. Acute respiratory health effects of short-term exposure to livestock-related air pollution has been shown for NH 3 and PM 10, but has not yet been studied for endotoxin. We aimed to assess associations between lung function and short-term exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin in co-pollutant models with NH 3 and PM 10. METHODS: In 2014/2015, spirometry was conducted in 2308 non-farming residents living in a rural area in the Netherlands. Residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin during the week prior to spirometry was estimated by dispersion modelling. The model was applied to geo-located individual barns within 10 km of each home address using provincial farm data and local hourly meteorological conditions. Regional week-average measured concentrations of NH 3 and PM 10 were obtained through monitoring stations. Lung function parameters (FEV 1, FVC, FEV 1/FVC, MMEF) were expressed in %-predicted value based on GLI-2012. Exposure-response analyses were performed by linear regression modelling. RESULTS: Week-average endotoxin exposure was negatively associated with FVC, independently from regional NH 3 and PM 10 exposure. A 1.1% decline in FVC was estimated for an increase of endotoxin exposure from 10th to 90th percentile. Stratified analyses showed a larger decline (3.2%) for participants with current asthma and/or COPD. FEV 1 was negatively associated with week-average endotoxin exposure, but less consistent after co-pollutant adjustment. FEV 1/FVC and MMEF were not associated with week-average endotoxin exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Lower lung function in non-farming residents was observed in relation to short-term residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin. This study indicates the probable relevance of exposure to microbial emissions from livestock farms considering public health besides chemical air pollution, necessitating future research incorporating both.

KW - Air pollution

KW - Emissions

KW - Endotoxin

KW - Livestock farming

KW - Public health

KW - Respiratory health

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DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117821

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SN - 0013-9351

VL - 243

JO - Environmental Research

JF - Environmental Research

M1 - 117821

ER -

Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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