Abstract
The aim of this study was to measure personal dust exposure levels and the dust particle size distribution during various agricultural operations in California. Personal dust exposure levels were measured with four-stage cascade impactors and respirable dust cyclones during field crop, fruit and nut farming, and dairy operations at three farms. Altogether, 103 cascade impactor measurements and 108 cyclone measurements were taken. High personal dust exposure levels were measured during various operations, in particular during ground preparation operations such as land planing (geometric mean [GM] = 57.3 mg/m3, geometric standard deviation [GSD] = 2.4) and discing (GM = 98.6 mg/m3, GSD = 2.9). Dust particles were relatively large and the great majority belonged to the extrathoracic fraction. Dust levels were considerably lower when an enclosed cabin was present on the tractor; for example, during discing, dust exposure levels were reduced more than sixtyfold for the larger dust particle fraction and more than fourfold for the respirable dust fraction.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 34-38 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jan 1998 |
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Keywords
- Agriculture
- Dust
- Particle size
- Respirable dust
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Exposure to dust and its particle size distribution in California agriculture. / Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.; Kruize, Hanneke; Schenker, Marc B.
In: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Vol. 59, No. 1, 01.1998, p. 34-38.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposure to dust and its particle size distribution in California agriculture
AU - Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.
AU - Kruize, Hanneke
AU - Schenker, Marc B
PY - 1998/1
Y1 - 1998/1
N2 - The aim of this study was to measure personal dust exposure levels and the dust particle size distribution during various agricultural operations in California. Personal dust exposure levels were measured with four-stage cascade impactors and respirable dust cyclones during field crop, fruit and nut farming, and dairy operations at three farms. Altogether, 103 cascade impactor measurements and 108 cyclone measurements were taken. High personal dust exposure levels were measured during various operations, in particular during ground preparation operations such as land planing (geometric mean [GM] = 57.3 mg/m3, geometric standard deviation [GSD] = 2.4) and discing (GM = 98.6 mg/m3, GSD = 2.9). Dust particles were relatively large and the great majority belonged to the extrathoracic fraction. Dust levels were considerably lower when an enclosed cabin was present on the tractor; for example, during discing, dust exposure levels were reduced more than sixtyfold for the larger dust particle fraction and more than fourfold for the respirable dust fraction.
AB - The aim of this study was to measure personal dust exposure levels and the dust particle size distribution during various agricultural operations in California. Personal dust exposure levels were measured with four-stage cascade impactors and respirable dust cyclones during field crop, fruit and nut farming, and dairy operations at three farms. Altogether, 103 cascade impactor measurements and 108 cyclone measurements were taken. High personal dust exposure levels were measured during various operations, in particular during ground preparation operations such as land planing (geometric mean [GM] = 57.3 mg/m3, geometric standard deviation [GSD] = 2.4) and discing (GM = 98.6 mg/m3, GSD = 2.9). Dust particles were relatively large and the great majority belonged to the extrathoracic fraction. Dust levels were considerably lower when an enclosed cabin was present on the tractor; for example, during discing, dust exposure levels were reduced more than sixtyfold for the larger dust particle fraction and more than fourfold for the respirable dust fraction.
KW - Agriculture
KW - Dust
KW - Particle size
KW - Respirable dust
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031930650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031930650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9438333
AN - SCOPUS:0031930650
VL - 59
SP - 34
EP - 38
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
SN - 1545-9624
IS - 1
ER -