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Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14425

A wearable real-time particulate monitor demonstrates that soaking hay reduces dust exposure.

Abstract: Affordable particulate matter (PM) monitors suitable for use on horses will facilitate the evaluation of PM mitigation methods and improve the management of equine asthma. Objective: Calibrate a real-time wearable PM monitor (Black Beauty [BB]) and compare the PM exposures of horses fed dry or soaked hay. Methods: Laboratory calibration; complete cross-over feed trial. Methods: Side-by-side sampling with BB monitors and tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOMs) was performed under varying concentrations of PM from alfalfa hay. Linear regression was used to derive a calibration formula for each unit based on TEOM PM measurements. Precision was evaluated by calculating the coefficient of variation and pairwise correlation coefficients between three BB monitors. PM exposure was measured at the breathing zone of 10 horses for 8 h after they were fed dry or soaked hay. Repeated measures generalised linear models were constructed to determine the effect of hay treatment and measurement duration (initial 20-min vs. 8-h) upon exposure to PM with diameters smaller than or equal to 10 μm (PM) and 2.5 μm (PM). Results: BB monitor PM and PM measurements were linearly correlated with TEOM data (coefficient of determination r > 0.85 and r > 0.90 respectively), but underestimated PM mass concentrations by a factor of 4 and PM concentrations by a factor of 44. Measures from the three BB monitors had a coefficient of variation  0.98. Feeding soaked hay significantly reduced average PM exposures (20-min: dry: 160 μg/m, soaked: 53 μg/m, p < 0.0001; 8-h: dry: 76 μg/m, soaked: 31 μg/m, p = 0.0008) and PM10 exposures (20-min: dry: 2829 μg/m, soaked: 970 μg/m, p < 0.0001; 8-h: dry: 1581 μg/m, soaked: 488 μg/m, p = 0.008). Conclusions: No health outcome measures were collected. Conclusions: With appropriate corrections, the BB monitor can be used to estimate horse PM exposure. While 20-min measurements yielded higher estimates of exposure than 8-h measurements, both intervals demonstrate that soaking hay reduces PM exposures by more than 50%.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-10-27 PubMed ID: 39463012DOI: 10.1111/evj.14425Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study calibrated wearable particulate monitors to measure real-time exposure to particulate matter (PM) in horses. The researchers found that feeding horses with soaked hay significantly reduces their exposure to PM compared to dry hay.

Calibrating the Particulate Monitor

  • The study maintained the objectivity of calibrating a real-time wearable PM monitor named Black Beauty (BB).
  • They used laboratory calibration and a complete cross-over feed trial.
  • The authors conducted side-by-side sampling with BB monitors and tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOMs) under varying concentrations of PM from alfalfa hay.
  • The data received from the monitors were subjected to linear regression to derive a calibration formula, based on the TEOM PM measurements.
  • To evaluate precision, the coefficient of variation and pairwise correlation coefficients between three BB monitors were calculated.

Measuring PM Exposure

  • The PM exposure was measured at the breathing zone of 10 horses for 8 hours after they were fed with either dry or soaked hay.
  • Repeated measures generalized linear models were used to determine the impact of hay treatment and the measurement duration (20-minute vs. 8-hour) on the PM exposure.
  • PM measurements were categorized into PM with diameters less than or equal to 10 micrometers (PM10) and 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5).

Results

  • The PM and PM10 measurements by the BB monitor were found to be linearly correlated with the TEOM data, but the BB monitor underestimated PM mass concentrations.
  • The measures from the three BB monitors showed a coefficient of variation of less than 15% and pairwise correlation coefficients higher than 0.98, demonstrating good reliability and reproducibility.
  • Feeding soaked hay significantly reduced average PM and PM10 exposures in contrast to dry hay, showing more than a 50% reduction.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that after necessary corrections, the BB monitor can be used to estimate horse PM exposure accurately.
  • It was noted that while 20-minute measurements showed higher estimates of exposure than 8-hour measurements, both intervals confirmed that soaking hay reduces PM exposures substantially.
  • However, no health outcome measures were included in this study to elaborate on the potential health impact of reduced PM exposure.

Cite This Article

APA
Ivester KM, Ni JQ, Couetil LL, Peters TM, Tatum M, Willems L, Park JH. (2024). A wearable real-time particulate monitor demonstrates that soaking hay reduces dust exposure. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14425

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Ivester, Kathleen M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Ni, Ji-Qin
  • Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Couetil, Laurent L
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Peters, Thomas M
  • Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Tatum, Marcus
  • Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Willems, Lynn
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Park, Jae Hong
  • School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

Grant Funding

  • 7000907 / USDA National Institue of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project
  • State of Indiana and Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Research Account
  • 210553 / Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Bouverat VMA, Pradervand N, Wichert BA, Greim E, Dolf GJ, Gerber V. Sensory Assessment of Hay Samples: Abnormal Odor Predicts Increased Dust Levels and Impurities Suggest Microbiological Contamination. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 14;15(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15182688pubmed: 41007933google scholar: lookup
  2. Bouverat VMA, Naef J, Dolf G, Lamon I, Sage SE, Gerber V. Minimising feeding behaviour interference: A hay-shaker device to assess dust exposure in horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1666-1676.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14492pubmed: 40028851google scholar: lookup
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