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Simple Summary: Indoor air quality is strongly associated with animal health and wellbeing. Therefore, animal enclosures must be consistently and sufficiently ventilated to provide for the health and well-being of animals and caretakers. Although there are several publications concerning assessments and effects of suboptimal air quality on rodents, no publications are available on group-housed non-human primates and the exposure of caretakers to inhalable dust and endotoxins. The indoor air quality of group-housed macaques at the Biomedical Primate Research Center (Rijswijk, the Netherlands) was assessed to identify possible problems regarding air circulation and the concentrations of inhalable dust, endotoxin, ammonia, fungi, temperature and relative humidity in the indoor environment. In addition, the exposure to inhalable dust and endotoxins of caretakers was evaluated. The observed values for these air quality parameters, measured at fixed locations in the animal enclosures, did not exceed the proposed human threshold limit values (TLV). However, caretakers were exposed to higher levels than the animals likely due to nature of their tasks. This study provides practical tools that can be used to improve the indoor air quality in group-housed macaques. Moreover, the results show that the exposure of caretakers to inhalable dust and endotoxins during daily work routines should be reduced. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is strongly associated with animal health and wellbeing. To identify possible problems of the indoor environment of macaques (Macaca spp.), we assessed the IAQ. The temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and concentrations of inhalable dust (mg/m3), endotoxins (EU/m3), ammonia (ppm) and fungal aerosols were measured at stationary fixed locations in indoor enclosures of group-housed rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). In addition, the personal exposure of caretakers to inhalable dust and endotoxins was measured and evaluated. Furthermore, the air circulation was assessed with non-toxic smoke, and the number of times the macaques sneezed was recorded. The indoor temperature and relative humidity for both species were within comfortable ranges. The geometric mean (GM) ammonia, dust and endotoxin concentrations were 1.84 and 0.58 ppm, 0.07 and 0.07 mg/m3, and 24.8 and 6.44 EU/m3 in the rhesus and cynomolgus macaque units, respectively. The GM dust concentrations were significantly higher during the daytime than during the nighttime. Airborne fungi ranged between 425 and 1877 CFU/m3. Personal measurements on the caretakers showed GM dust and endotoxin concentrations of 4.2 mg/m3 and 439.0 EU/m3, respectively. The number of sneezes and the IAQ parameters were not correlated. The smoke test revealed a suboptimal air flow pattern. Although the dust, endotoxins and ammonia were revealed to be within accepted human threshold limit values (TLV), caretakers were exposed to dust and endotoxin levels exceeding existing occupational reference values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig manure contains a wide variety of corrosion-inducing chemicals such as ammonia. Ammonia production and its release are influenced by temperature and moisture in the barn environment. Increased concentrations of ammonia can negatively affect pig health and growth, as well as pose a risk to human health. Additionally, even at decreased concentrations, ammonia reacts with humidity and causes premature corrosion of barn equipment and is a threat to the structural integrity of livestock buildings. In this study, ammonia concentrations were monitored and compared between two 880 head wean-finish swine facilities with different types of waste management systems. Both facilities had shallow manure pits, one containing a flush system and one containing a pull plug system to remove manure from the barns into the lagoon. Ammonia, dry-bulb air temperature, and relative humidity levels were measured every0 min for an entire wean-finish cycle (approximately 20 weeks). Data will be compared between the facilities to evaluate the impact of the waste management systems on indoor air quality conditions. Potential implications for pig health and growth and facility maintenance will be explored. Results will provide information on best management strategies for swine facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]