Research On Components Of Particulate Matters In Pigeon House And Its Effects On Animal Lungs

Particulate matters (PM) have adverse effects on human and animal health. Nowadays, PM have become the primary pollutant in China, while, animal husbandry becomes one of the most important sources. The PM in poultry house may be composed of dried faecal material, feed, airborne pollutant, animal dander and feathers generated by metabolism and activities of animals and stockmen. In this study, the PM in the pigeon house were targeted as objects, the composition and concentration of PM were analyzed, and adverse effects of PM on mice and pigeons were assessed. Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope(ESEM) was used to observe patterns and sizes of the PM, associated with X-ray spectrum analyzer, to analyze elemental composition and sources. In order to investigate distribution patterns of the PM, Suffer 11 was used to drawed out chorograms of PM concentration according to the data determined by dust meter at 44 different spots in the house. For the purpose of finding the methods to reduce PM in pigeon house, the quantitative relations of PM with different grain sizes, correlation between PM concentration and temperature or relative humidity were all analyzed, as well as the impact of ventilation on the PM. During the experiment, clean ICR mice were rised as sentinel animals at different spots, Blood test, IL-6 and IFN-y level in serum, histopathologic responses of the lungs and the expression of IL-6 gene and IFN-y gene in the lungs were detected to appraise effects the PM have on mammals. Pathologic changes and expression of the genes were also measured in pigeons. Major findings were as following:(1) Daily average concentrations of Total Suspended Particle (TSP), PM10 and PM2.5 were 9.77 mg/m3,8.23 mg/m3 and 5.17 mg/m3, respectively, in winter days while the house is poorly-ventilated, whereas 2.60 mg/m3,2.01 mg/m3 and 1.43 mg/m3 in summer days, the concentrations of PM2.5 were 40-147 times more than national air quality standards. More than 90% of the content was C, N and O by mass, mass percentage of the elements was 49: 19:25, indicate that the major ingredient of PM in pigeon house is protein. Dander and feathers were observed in the PM through ESEM.(2) PM from pigeon house may have an impairment in both systematic cell-mediated and humoral-mediated immunity.(3) Persistent exposure to the PM may initiate pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis, characterized mainly by thickened alveolar walls and proliferation of fibroblast macrophages engulfed PM, bronchiole epithelial cell shedding and apoptosis, infiltration of monocyte, lymphocyte and other inflammatory cells under tunica mucosa of bronchiole. Similar changes were also happened in pigeon’s lung, moreover, metaplasia of bronchial epithelial cells represent for airway remodeling will occurred after years of exposure.(4) Except for IL-6 in high dose group increased insignificantly(P>0.05), the expression of IL-6 gene and IFN-y gene induced significantly in the lungs of mice after 42 days exposure to PM from pigeon house(P<0.05), and the high dose group is numerically lower than the low group.(5) Expression of IL-6 and IFN-y genes in high dose group was significantly less than the low dose in squabs (P<0.05). conversely, the high dose was significantly more than the low dose in breeding pigeons. (P<0.05)(6) There were no significant difference between ages and genders in the effect of PM on IL-6 and IFN-y genes in pigeon lung.In summmary, it was demonstrated in this research that PM in pigeon house come from pigeon, the concentrations is much higher than the atmosphere, and the PM have negative impact on animal health exposure to them.