HEALTH IN THE LOFT: YOURS, NOT THE
PIGEONS!
Guidelines for Preventing Pigeon Fanciers' Lung.
By: Gary Gleeson
Copies of this article may be freely printed and
distributed provided that the author receives full acknowledgment, that no
substantial changes are made to the text and that an original copy of any
publication is forwarded to the author at Post Office Box 17, Tuart Hill, 6939,
Western Australia.
The
subject of this article is your health and how to keep it.
You
will hear the condition of interest called many things including Pigeon
Fanciers' Lung (PFL), Pigeon Breeders' Lung (PBL), Bird Fanciers Lung
(BFL)
and Bird Breeders' Lung (BBL). PFL is the most accurate when dealing
exclusively with pigeons. PBL implies that only breeders are affected, which is
clearly not the case. Many pigeon fanciers have indicated that they experience
typical symptoms in circumstances such as shows, an activity that has nothing
to do with breeding (1).
PFL
is a form of Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (EAA). The Americans call it Hypersensitivity
Pneumonitis. EAA also affects people who keep other types of birds,
particularly budgerigars in the house. Another form of EAA is "Farmers
Lung".
SYMPTOMS:
There
are two distinct but overlapping phases of EAA, "acute" and
"chronic". The acute phase is the most common in pigeon
fanciers. Typically sufferers experience intense flu-like symptoms of fever,
chills, muscle ache, cough and/or breathlessness four to eight hours after high
level exposure to pigeons such as occurs when cleaning the loft or basketing
pigeons. A medical practitioner may be able to detect lung abnormalities using
a stethoscope and X-rays. Blood tests may reveal high levels of antibodies to
pigeon proteins. The symptoms usually pass within 48 hours but may persist for
a week or more. Although the attack itself will probably pass without treatment
it is important to visit the doctor whilst symptoms are still present,
preferably on the day of onset, as if you delay there may be no symptoms for
the doctor to discover. It is important that sufferers are identified as early
as possible to prevent progression to the more serious chronic stage of PFL. If
detected and appropriate measures taken early enough, acute PFL is reversible.
Make
sure you inform the doctor that you keep pigeons and exactly how long passed
between exposure to pigeons and the onset of symptoms.
If
not detected or ignored the acute phase may be followed by the chronic phase,
which is, characterized by a type of irreversible lung damage the doctors call
"pulmonary fibrosis". This is very serious and in extreme cases may
be fatal. The major symptoms detectable by the layman are breathlessness on
exertion, cough and weight loss, which can be considerable.
If
you think you might be affected do not panic. Seek medical advice. The doctor
should order a number of tests to determine what the problem is. Remember that
there are many other possible causes for your symptoms besides your pigeons.
Make sure that your doctor has considered the alternatives as well. Do not be
afraid to ask for a second opinion.
CAUSES:
It
was not until 1965 that Pigeon Fanciers' Lung was first described in the
scientific literature (2). Since then considerable research has been done into
this and other forms of "Bird-Breeders' Lung" and new material
continues to be published.
There
are several schools of thought in the scientific community about the precise
disease mechanisms. None of them have been conclusively proved. There is
however general agreement that pigeon fanciers are a high risk group and that
inhaling pigeon materials causes PFL to develop in some susceptible
individuals. Other fanciers with similar exposure to pigeons do not develop the
disease. There is no reliable method to predict who will be affected and who
will not. Hopefully the scientists will eventually develop a reliable method
but so far they have not. Until they do everyone exposed to pigeons should
consider themselves at risk and take precautions to minimize the amount of
pigeon materials they breathe in.
Exactly
which pigeon materials cause the disease has not yet been proved. The leading
contenders are droppings and feather bloom, but whatever the cause, the most
important characteristic is that the particles must be small enough for a high
proportion of them to reach and be deposited in the gas exchanging region of
the lungs. For this to happen they must be less than 5 microns in diameter. A
micron is one thousandth of a millimeter. For practical purposes this means
that the particles with the potential to cause problems cannot be seen with the
naked eye. Bloom particle size has been measured at approximately 1micron (3).
Every
flyer has his or her own management methods. This paper cannot discuss them
all. As you read this guideline consider what you do that puts you in a
position where you may be breathing in pigeon materials.
COMMON
RISK SITUATIONS:
Loft
Cleaning: Do not allow droppings to
build up. Remember that it is the particles you can't see that are the most
dangerous. The best way to remove dust is with a vacuum cleaner. It may be
necessary to fit a filter over the cleaner's air exhaust to prevent dust simply
passing through the machine and being pumped back into the loft. Wash the
inside of the loft out periodically with a hose (after removing the birds). Do
this first thing in the morning on a fine day so that it has time to dry. Don't
forget the stock loft.
Handling
Pigeons: Anyone who has handled
pigeons, particularly racing homers, is familiar with what Colin Osman (4)
calls "the dust which soils waistcoats". This is particularly
noticeable on race basketing days at the club when birds have been individually
examined at home and then again at the club. This material on clothing and
hands is readily transferred to the breathing zone and then inhaled. See the
section on protective clothing.
Releasing
Birds for Exercise: Each downbeat of
a bird's wings creates a powerful downdraught of air, consequently spreading
dust. A recently published study (5) has found that when the flock is liberated
for exercise the combined beating of all those wings as they leave their
perches and strain for altitude stirs up any dust in the loft and it does not
return to normal levels for ten to fifteen minutes.
The
implications of this finding are that you should:
*
leave the immediate area of the loft as soon as you release the birds,
* not return until the dust has settled,
* wear a mask if you have to go into the loft for any reason in this period.
Feather
Sheath Particles:
In
breeding lofts where fast growing youngsters are located, and in all lofts
during the annual moult, feather sheath particles occur in large quantities
significantly increasing the amount of material in the loft environment.
Transport
of Pigeons:
Inhalation
of pigeon materials must be avoided wherever they occur. However, many flyers
who keep their lofts scrupulously clean will sit in a closed car for hours with
dozens of pigeons when going for a toss.
In
an ideal world we would all have special vehicles for our pigeons. A utility
where the humans and pigeons ride in completely separate compartments of the
vehicle is ideal. However in the real world most of us have to make do with the
same vehicle we use every day. Nevertheless there are steps which can be taken
to minimize exposure when tossing:
1. Keep crates clean. Do not allow dust and feathers to
build up. Periodically wash them out with water.
2. Put the birds in the car just before you leave and
remove the empty crates from the car as soon as you return home. Keep to an
absolute minimum the time that birds are in the car.
3. When birds are in the car maximise ventilation.
Arrange airflow to carry pigeon materials away from your breathing zone. The
best way to achieve this will depend on your vehicle. As a guide the following
has been found to work well in the author's station wagon when carrying just
the driver and birds. The driver's side windows are closed and both passenger's
side windows partly opened. Dashboard air vents, which draw fresh air directly
from outside the vehicle are aimed into the driver's breathing zone and the fan
turned to its highest setting.
4. Do not allow dust to build up. Vacuum the vehicle
interior immediately following the transportation of birds.
5. Use low dust fillings in the crates (see "Loft
Litter" below).
6. Individuals who have had previous acute attacks of
PFL it may find it necessary wear a mask when transporting pigeons in their
car.
Loft
Litter:
The
same recently published study referred to above (5) found that lofts using the
deep litter method had significantly higher levels of pigeon materials than
lofts cleaned regularly (usually daily). Litters used in the studied lofts
included hay, woodchips, sawdust or sand to which lime may have been added.
Further testing was done in a purpose built experimental loft using sand, sand
and lime, woodchips, woodchips and lime, hay and sepolite. Highest counts were
observed for sepolite, lowest for wood/lime as litters.
Other
Hazards:
Be
aware that other materials in the loft environment can also cause respiratory
problems. Nesting material, shavings and grain dust to name just a few can
cause problems just as serious as pigeon materials and need to be controlled or
protected against.
HOW
TO MINIMISE YOUR EXPOSURE:
Loft
Design:
Health
and Safety professionals employ personal protective equipment to prevent ill
health only as a last resort. Before resorting to respiratory protection
devices you should consider if you can adopt "engineering" solutions
to solve the problem. Designing lofts to minimize the amount of pigeon
materials in the fancier's breathing zone should be the first strategy employed
to minimize the problem.
Many
flyers spend a great deal of time and money devising means of improving airflow
for the birds. Unfortunately, the classical solution as to what is good for the
pigeons, stale air being vented at ceiling level, fresh air being introduced at
floor level, is probably not that good for the flyer. The air is drawn in past
the droppings, past the birds, through the flier's breathing zone, and then
expelled from the loft. Ideally the fresh air should pass through the flier's
breathing zone before coming into contact with any pigeon materials, including
of course the birds themselves. Some form of artificial direction of airflow
would be necessary to achieve this. Fresh air, if necessary drawn through
ducting from ground level, would have to be forced into the loft at ceiling
level by mechanical means. Stale air should be extracted from the loft, taking
as much dust as possible with it, at ground level. These exhaust vents should
not be located anywhere near the intake vents.
The
ease of implementing this will vary according the nature of your loft and the
depth of your pocket. In warm climates where lofts usually have at least one
wall that consists mostly of wire mesh or doweling, ventilation engineering is
difficult (but not impossible). In colder climates where the loft is frequently
entirely enclosed ventilation control is much easier.
Self
cleaning systems are now in use in some lofts. They range in sophistication
(and price) from elaborate automatic machinery to the now increasingly common
wire floored loft. The author is not aware of any research done in this area
but they appear attractive both from the health viewpoint as well as a
significant time saving device. You need to remember that any system is only as
good as its maintenance. The droppings etc. eventually wind up somewhere
however they are removed from the loft. Make sure that you are not just
shifting the problem from one area to another instead of solving it.
Lofts
should be designed so that there are no areas where dust can become trapped and
build up. In particular ensure that perches are not fitted flush to the wall.
Leave sufficient space so that any pigeon materials deposited at the rear of
the perch can drop to the floor.
PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
Respiratory
Protection (Masks):
A
small scale study (six subjects) published in 1981 (6) indicated that
respirators "can offer substantial, and in most cases, complete protection
against single exposures to environmental dusts that may provoke EAA."
This study is encouraging but needs to be verified and extended by a larger
scale study.
Masks
come in a variety of shapes, sizes and types. It is vital that you get the
correct type and that it fits you exactly. Even small leaks around a mask can
result in exposure. For this reason the masks need to fit snugly. There is no
point in wearing an ill fitting mask. Masks are designed to protect the wearer
from specific hazards. Ensure that the one selected for use with pigeons is
designed to protect the wearer against "dust." A mask designed to
protect against other hazards will not protect against the inhalation of pigeon
materials.
Unfortunately
there are a number of sub-standard devices on the market which look good but do
not offer adequate protection. The best way of checking that you have the
correct type is to ensure that the mask chosen is designed for protection
against "dust" as defined in Australian /New Zealand Standard
1715-1994 (7) or international equivalent
Storage
of respirators is important. They must be kept in a location where there is no
possibility of them being contaminated. A large dose of contaminant can be
inhaled if the inside of the mask is unclean. It is pointless to wear a mask as
protection from materials that are inside the mask.
Beards
and moustaches can create difficulties in achieving a proper fit. If
you
have one it may be necessary to wear a different type of device. Under these
circumstances it is advisable to go to a reputable supplier of industrial
safety equipment and be personally fitted.
Masks
however have the disadvantage of being uncomfortable and of not being worn.
Even with the best intentions it is difficult to remember to put the mask on
every time the loft is visited. This is especially true if it is intended to be
there for a few minutes to attend to a particular chore, or as frequently
happens, one just arrives at the loft with no conscious forethought. Thus,
whilst it is relatively simple to protect yourself with a mask when you know in
advance that you will be exposed to large doses of antigen (e.g. during
cleaning) this is not a viable long term strategy for protection against small
but frequent exposures if it is not worn on each and every occasion.
Protective
Clothing:
Family
members can be at risk from pigeon materials brought into the house on flyers'
clothing. There are recorded instances in the scientific literature of a fliers
wife contracting PFL even though she had nothing to do with the pigeons (8).
The most likely explanation is that be contamination by pigeon materials
brought into the house on the fliers clothing is sufficient to affect another
person exposed to the clothing.
The
answer to this to wear an extra layer of protective clothing (overalls or a
dust coat) when in the loft or handling pigeons and remove the clothing before
entering the house. The contaminated clothes should be placed in a sealed
container when not in use. Special easily removed footwear should also be used
to visit the loft e.g. a pair of thongs left outside the back door of the
house.
The
only time this protective clothing is taken into the house should be for
washing. It should be taken direct to the laundry and washed immediately. Do
not allow it to contaminate other clothing.
Personal
Hygiene:
Pigeon
materials also build up on the skin. You should wash your hands with soap and
water after handling birds and shower after cleaning the loft.
Pigeon
Behaviour:
The
activities of the birds themselves can be a problem as they fly about inside
the loft. Each downbeat of a bird's wings creates a powerful downdraught of
air, consequently spreading dust. Lofts should be designed so that as far as
possible pigeons must walk rather than fly when moving about internally and
cannot escape when you wish to catch them. Training pigeons to accept your
presence in the loft can also substantially reduce this flying about. A bonus
is that you will find that this training has a positive effect on their racing
performance.
The
flock instinct makes wild behaviour spread rapidly through the loft. The
occasional idiot that flies madly about whenever you enter the loft should be
eliminated.
Frequent
Baths:
Provide
baths as frequently as possible, preferably outside of the loft. This can
substantially reduce the amount of atmospheric bloom in the loft. You cannot
give the birds too many baths. They will regulate this themselves. There is one
exception to this rule. Birds should not be permitted to bathe within three
days of racing as they will not have sufficient wax in their wings to protect
them should it rain.
Pigeon
Numbers:
Do
not keep more pigeons than you need. The more pigeons you have the greater the
amount of pigeon materials generated in your loft.
FUTURE
DIRECTIONS:
This
guideline is based upon data gathered during a formal academic research project
into respiratory disease in avian based industries being conducted by the
author in the School of Public Health of Curtin University of Technology,
Perth, Western Australia. The project is continuing. Constructive criticism and
suggestions will be gratefully received. They should be directed to: Post
Office Box 17, Tuart Hill, Western Australia. 6939. Serious academic or medical
researchers are invited to contact the author at the above address or by Email:
gleeson@worksafe.wa.gov.au for further
details.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Gary
Gleeson has formal postgraduate qualifications in public health and is
currently employed as a Senior Inspector with WorkSafe, Western Australia. He has
been racing pigeons for 30 years with considerable success. Three times
Champion of the strong United Districts Racing Pigeon Club (Inc.) in Perth,
Western Australia, Gary usually finishes high in his Federations "Flyer of
the Year", competition and is the Federation President