[Investigations on airborne microorganisms in animal stables. 3: Relationship between inhalable endotoxin, inhalable dust and airborne bacteria in a hen house].

The relationship between inhalable endotoxin, inhalable dust and airborne bacteria was studied in a hen house. Neither the concentration of inhalable dust nor the concentration of airborne bacteria are suitable to reflect the concentration of airborne endotoxin. Furthermore it was found that the endotoxic activity can persist over a long period of time in dust samples. Therefore an accumulation of endotoxin in different environments is possible. Airborne endotoxin seems to be a suitable marker to characterize exposure to airborne organic dust, since this toxin is responsible for different respiratory diseases (e.g. toxic pneumonitis, airway obstructions) and the toxic activity of endotoxin in dust samples is known to persist for a long time.