Evaluation of Microbiological and Chemical Contaminants in Poultry Farms

Justyna Skóra, Katarzyna Matusiak, Piotr Wojewódzki, Adriana Nowak, Michael Sulyok, Anna Ligocka, Małgorzata Okrasa, Janusz Hermann and Beata Gutarowska
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Justyna Skóra: Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, 90 924 Łódź, Poland
Katarzyna Matusiak: Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, 90 924 Łódź, Poland
Piotr Wojewódzki: Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Technology and Life Science in Bydgoszcz, 85 796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Adriana Nowak: Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, 90 924 Łódź, Poland
Michael Sulyok: Department of Agrobiotechnology, Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
Anna Ligocka: Department of Microbiology and Food Technology, University of Technology and Life Science in Bydgoszcz, 85 796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Małgorzata Okrasa: Department of Personal Protective Equipment, Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, 00 701 Warsaw, Poland
Janusz Hermann: Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Technology and Life Science in Bydgoszcz, 85 796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Beata Gutarowska: Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, 90 924 Łódź, Poland

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the microbiological and chemical contamination in settled dust at poultry farms. The scope of research included evaluating the contributions of the various granulometric fractions in settled dust samples, assessing microbial contamination using culture methods, concentrations of secondary metabolites in dust and their cytotoxicity against hepatocyte chicken cells by means of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tests. In addition, we also evaluated the concentration of selected volatile odorous compounds (VOCs) using gas chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods and airborne dust concentration in the air with DustTrak™ DRX Aerosol Monitor. Studies were carried out on chicken broilers and laying hens at 13 poultry farms, with numbers of birds ranging from 8000 to 42,000. The airborne total dust concentration at poultry farms averaged 1.44 mg/m 3 with a high percentage of the PM 10 fraction (particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 ?m). Microorganism concentrations in the settled dust were: 3.2 × 10 9 cfu/g for bacteria and 1.2 × 10 6 cfu/g for fungi. Potential pathogens ( Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli , Salmonella spp., Aspergillus fumigatus , Paecilomyces variotii ) were also found. Secondary metabolites included aurofusarin, deoxynivalenol, 15-hydroxyculmorin zearalenone, zearalenone-sulfate, infectopyron, and neochinulin A. However, the dust samples showed weak cytotoxicity towards chicken hepatocyte cells, which ranged between 9.2% and 29.7%. Among volatile odorous compounds ammonia, acrolein, methyloamine, acetic acid, acetoaldehyde and formaldehyde were detected in the air. In conclusion, settled dust can be a carrier of microorganisms, odours and secondary metabolites in poultry farms, which can be harmful to workers’ health.

Keywords: poultry farm; microorganisms; air quality; VOCs; mycotoxins; settled dust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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