BACKGROUND
Swine producers are exposed to dusts and gases when working in barns and studies have shown that these workers are at increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms, decreases in lung function levels and increases in airway reactions. Engineering controls are in development in an attempt to reduce the dust and gas levels in this work environment. One method for reducing worker exposure to dusts is by having workers wear a disposable respirator (mask) during barn work activities.

The objective of the study was to evaluate health effects related to wearing a disposable mask in a swine confinement unit.

STUDY DESIGN
Twenty-one subjects between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years old were recruited to participate in the study. These subjects were male, nonsmokers, with no asthma or allergies and had no previous exposure to a swine barn environment.

The study was conducted to assess subjectsa