Testing oflung function and bronchial reactivity, broncho alveolar lavage (BAL), and a skin prick test with a standard

farmers. Antibodies(assessed by DIG-ELISA)against swine dander, swine dust, and pig feed were increased and precipitating antibodies against swine dander were found in 14, against pig food in five, and against swine confinement dust in three of the 20 pig farmers. The concentration of airborne total dust was 7.4 mg/cu mm and the endotoxin concentration was 37 (22 to 60) ng/cu mm during tending the pigs and increased, during feeding, to 13.8 mg/cu mm and 315 (194 to 716) ng/cu mm, respectively. There was i@ correlation between exposure and lung function or lavage findings. In conclusion, randomly selected pig farmers had signs of airway inflammatory reaction and activation of the immune system without alteration in lung function and bronchial reactivity. (Chest 1992; 101:767-74) ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme;BALbrenthoalveolar lavage; CI=confidence interval; ELJSAenzyme-linked im munosorbent assay; iqr interquartile range; PEF peak cx piratory flow Testing oflung function and bronchial reactivity, broncho alveolar lavage (BAL), and a skin prick test with a standard panel and six “¿ swine― extracts obtained from swine and swine environmentwere performed in 20 randomly selected nonsmoking swine confinement workers. In addition, blood samples for detection of antibodies by the diffusion in gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DIG-ELISA) tech nique and precipitating antibodies were drawn. Air samples I@r measurement of dust and endotoxin levels were col lected. All the farmers regarded themselves as healthy. The results were compared with reference groups consisting ofurban nonsmoking subjects who had not been exposed to pig farming environment. The pig farmers had normal lung function and the bronchial reactivity was not different from the reference group. In the BAL fluid of the farmers, the concentration of total cells and granulocytes was increased while the concentrations of lymphocytes and macrophages were normal. The BAL fluid concentrations of albumin, fibronectin, and hyaluronan were elevated in the farmers.