Project
VGO III vervolgonderzoek gezondheidseffecten van veehouderij
A recent finding that has been consistent over several years in the VGO research programme (livestock farming and health of local residents, a large research project in the east of the province of North Brabant and the north of the province of Limburg) is that more cases of pneumonia occur among residents living near poultry and goat farms.
The relationship between the occurrence of pneumonia and poultry farms is possibly caused by the emission of particulate matter and endotoxins by these farms, in addition to the already high background exposure to particulate matter in the study region.
However, the (cause of the) association between pneumonia and the proximity of goat farms is unclear, partly because lower (compared to poultry farms) amounts of dust and endotoxins are released from this type of farming under regular conditions.
This research, part of the research program 'VGO-III', focuses on identifying the causes of the increased pneumonia incidence in residents living around goat farms: Which possible (zoonotic) agents and farm factors on goat farms play a role in this increased pneumonia incidence?