AIRPOUL: Air Quality in Laying Hen Farms: Impact on Environment and Farmers’ Health

Livestock building air contains gases, dust, and bioaerosols, which are managed through ventilation. The AIRPOUL project measured ambient air quality in French laying hen systems—conventional, enriched cages, floor systems, and aviaries—during two campaigns (2006 and 2011). It characterized dust exposure sources, size fractions of particles, and ammonia emissions, evaluating their impact on soil acidification, pathogen spread, and farmers’ respiratory health. Results revealed degraded air quality in enriched cages, floor barns, and aviaries compared to banned conventional cages, with higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in more exposed farmers. The study identifies high-risk activities and proposes management practices to reduce dust concentrations and improve protection measures.