VETERINARY PRACTICE AND OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL GROUPS OF DUTCH VETERINARIANS .2. PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW VARIABILITY, DUST AND ENDOTOXIN MEASUREMENTS, USE OF RESPIRATORY, PROTECTION DEVICES, AND TIME DISTRIBUTION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Dust and endotoxin exposure was measured in the Spring and Autumn in 9 6 veterinary practitioners, subdivided in four professional groups ((p redominantly working with either swine, cattle, poultry, or companion animals), Furthermore, peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability was meas ured four times a day over a week in Spring and Autumn in order to det ect occupation-related respiratory disorders, The participants kept a log book in which they recorded their activities during these periods, Practitioners working with swine, cattle, or poultry had a significan tly higher exposure to dust(+/- 5 times) and endotoxin(+/- 10 times) t han companion animal practitioners, PEF variability measurements gave no indications for an increased prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivit y related to occupational activities, Respiratory protective devices ( RPD) were used selectively, Only a small proportion of the practitione rs used them at any time when entering a animal confinement building. Swine and cattle practitioners worked for approximately 3.6 hours per day in animal buildings, whereas poultry practitioners worked in the e nvironment of poultry buildings for approximately 2.8 hours per day.