Exposure to tobacco dust in primary tobacco-processing workers

ABSTRACT

Numerous workers are engaged in processing of tobacco in Iran and therefore, their exposures to tobacco dust are likely to be high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the workers' exposure to tobacco dust. Total dusts were collected within the workers' breathing zone using a Personal Air Sampler [PAS] and respirable dusts were measured using a real time monitor [Micro Dust Pro] with a particle size adapter in different parts of the factory. To weigh the filters a microbalance accurate to 5 decimal places was used. The mean total tobacco dust concentrations for personal exposure near breathing zone in this study was 9.32 mgm-3 that was lower than TLV recommended by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists [ACGIH]. In contrast the mean respirable dust concentrations was 3.28 mgm-3 which is higher than Threshold Limit Value [TLV]. Dust control methods such as good maintenance of existent dust emission control systems, insulation of dust sources and designing suitable local exhaust ventilation should be applied to maintain workers' health