Assessment of workers’ exposure to grain dust and bioaerosols during the loading of vessels’ hold: An example at a port in the province of Québec

Type de document

Études primaires

Année de publication

2017

Langue

Anglais

Titre de la revue

Annals of Work Exposures and Health

Première page

836

Dernière page

843

Résumé

Longshoremen are exposed to large amounts of grain dust while loading of grain into the holds of vessels. Grain dust inhalation has been linked to respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, hypersensitivity, pneumonitis, and toxic pneumonitis. Our objective was to characterize the exposure of longshoremen to inhalable and total dust, endotoxins, and cultivable bacteria and fungi during the loading of grain in a vessel’s hold at the Port of Montreal in order to assess the potential health risks. Sampling campaigns were conducted during the loading of two different types of grain (wheat and corn). Environmental samples of microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, and actinomycetes) were taken near the top opening of the ship’s holds while personal breathing zone measurements of dust and endotoxins were sampled during the worker’s 5-hour shifts. Our study show that all measurements are above the recommendations with concentration going up to 390 mg m−3 of total dust, 89 mg m−3 of inhalable fraction, 550 000 EU m−3 of endotoxins, 20 000 CFU m−3 of bacteria, 61 000 CFU m−3 of fungus and 2500 CFU m−3 of actinomycetes. In conclusion, longshoremen are exposed to very high levels of dust and of microorganisms and their components during grain loading work. Protective equipment needs to be enforced for all workers during such tasks in order to reduce their exposure.

Mots-clés

Évaluation de l'exposition, Exposure evaluation, Poussière en suspension dans l'air, Airborne dust, Aérosol, Aerosol, Cale de navires, Ship hold, Céréale, Cereal, Québec

Numéro de projet IRSST

n/a

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