Industrial hog farming is associated with altered circulating immunological markers.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The previously observed inverse association between hog farming and risk of lung cancer in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) has been attributed to endotoxin exposure, the levels of which are particularly high in industrial hog confinement facilities. We conducted an investigation to explore the potential biological mechanisms underlying this association, as well as other immunological changes associated with hog farming.

Methods

Serum immune marker levels were measured using a multiplexed bead-based assay in 61 active hog farmers and 61 controls matched on age, phlebotomy date and raising cattle. Both groups comprised non-smoking male AHS participants from Iowa. We compared natural log-transformed marker levels between hog farmers and controls using multivariat

SUBMITTER: Hofmann JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841451 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature