Equestrian Riding Surfaces and the Use of Dust Suppressants
Dust is a very real health hazard for most living creatures. Equestrians
are concerned
with riding arena surfaces, primarily for the comfort, health, and
performance of the
horse but human health issues absolutely must be addressed. The objective
of this
survey was to determine type of riding facility used, arena surface
composition and
dust controls methods used.
Twenty percent of the surveyed facilities were
dressage/English disciplines and 80% were western/general equestrian
facilities.
Survey results showed, 40% of facilities had access to an
indoor riding arena. Riding
surfaces consisted of: 71% sandy soils and fine aggregates , 40% clay
soil, 21% wood
products, 7% used rubber products and 6% used tan bark (arena treatments
were not
mutually exclusive).
Sands
and existing soils were the primary materials that were mixed with other
arena surface treatments. Sixty percent of all facilities responding used
a dust control product with 86% of the indoor facilities using dust
suppression.
The primary dust control method was watering (hosing,
sprinkling, etc.), 6.6% added
chemicals (salts), 6% incorporated soiled bedding/manure and 3.2% used
other
suppressants (vegetable oil, mineral-based, or petroleum motor oils).
Agricultural dust (livestock, grains and riding arenas) is
a serious environmental and
health hazard.1, 2 Increased awareness of occupational diseases
and the development
of epidemiological studies have shown that the problems of exposure to
dusts is
widespread and that many industries are concerned about these risks.1
Health issues
should be addressed when
constructing and maintaining riding area surfaces.
Despite recent reports of respiratory problems among other agricultural
occupations, relatively few studies have been conducted to characterize
dust (particles ranging from .001mm to .005mm) exposures in the equestrian
environment.1, 5, 6
Materials and Methods
Over 2,500 addresses for equestrian facilities across
North American were collected to
complete the survey. Survey variables and frequencies were analyzed.
Results and Discussion
Survey results showed that 40% of facilities had access to
an indoor riding arena,
78.8% had access to an outdoor riding facility and 1.3% had racetracks.
Some of the
operations had access to both indoor and outdoor riding facilities.
Substantial
dust is generated in both indoor and
outdoor arenas, during riding and training activities. It is a known
scientifically proven fact that dusts generated from these riding surface
materials are serious health hazard to horses and humans and is
accumulative in the respiratory system2 .
A Colorado State University survey of riding instructors
showed that nearly half of the instructor’s (46%) primary riding facility
is an indoor arena.3 The survey also found that instructors and
trainers are nearly two times more likely to develop chronic bronchitis.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand the types of surface materials
that are being used in riding facilities and the importance of using good,
long-term dust suppression methods.
According to this survey, most equestrian facilities
operators are concerned about dust
control because many equestrian instructors and trainers spend long hours
each day in
an indoor arena. There are many methods used to control dust; whatever
method is
used it is necessary to think about the following considerations. Reducing
dust is
critical by either increasing particle size through
aggregation/agglomeration which is
accomplished by an adhesive force that binds to particulates larger than
soil particles
or by increasing particle weight through absorption of low molecular
weight, low
density suppressants. Dust suppressants used include water, salts, methyl
esters of
vegetable oil and petroleum, hydrotreated alkanes/akylates, or
mineral-based oils.
1East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine,
Greenville, NC 27252
1. Rylander, R., (1986) Lung Disease Caused by Organic Dusts in the Farm
Environment. Amer Jrnl of Indust Med 10:221-227.
2. Johnston, A.M., Evaluation and management of respiratory disease in the
horse.
Tieraztliche Praxis, 1987; 2:21-3.
3. Kollar, J.L., A. M. Swinker and M. L. Swinker (2000) A Survey of
Respiratory
Disorders in Equestrian Instructors. Department of Animal Sciences,
Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO.
4. Garry, V. F. & Kirkhorn, S. R., (2000) Agricultural lung disease,
Environmental
Health Perspective,108:705-712.
5. Schneker, M., Exposures and health effects from inorganic agricultural
dusts.
Environmental Health Perspectives 2000;108:661-212.
6. Malmgren, R., 1999, The Equine Arena Handbook, Alpine Publication,
Loveland, CO.
p. 4
From a report by A. M. Swinker, M. L. Swinker1, and J. L.
Kollar
