AIRBORNE BACTERIA AND PARTICULATE MATTER IN POULTRY ENVIRONMENTS: A DOUBLE THREAT TO WORKERS´ HEALTH

The poultry industry poses a global health risk due to microbial contamination. Also, particulate matter (PM) may act as a vehicle for microbial dissemination. Understanding PM dynamics in poultry production environments is crucial for evaluating occupational exposure to airborne pathogens. This study aims to quantify PM contamination and assess occupational exposure to airborne bacteria in poultry pavilions (PP) throughout different stages of the production cycle. Air samples from indoor (n=47) and outdoor (n=20) PP were collected across various stages of the growth cycle (empty pavilion- sanitary control, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd weeks). For bacteria characterization the impactor MAS-100 was set to 100 L/min for 5 minutes and culture-based methods were performed. PM size fractions (PM0.5, PM1, PM2.5, PM5, and PM10) were measured using a Lighthouse Handheld Particle Counter at a flow rate of 2.83 L/min during 5 min. The highest bacterial loads and PM contamination occurred during the 3rd week, indicating a link between PM and the dissemination of airborne bacteria. PM10 and PM5 were dominant throughout the production cycle, highlighting their potential role in carrying pathogens to workers' respiratory systems. These findings emphasize the need to monitor PM and microbiological contamination in poultry farms to reduce worker health hazards.