An evaluation of exposure to fungal spores and recommendations for their control in a beet sugar refinery (SENSOR), at Monitor Sugar Company, Bay City, Michigan.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hart M ; Jensen PA ; Mickelsen RL ; O'Brien, Dennis M. ; Todd WF ; Hart M ; Jensen PA ; Mickelsen RL ; O'Brien, Dennis M. ; Todd WF
• Description:
  A study was undertaken to document and evaluate effective techniques for the control of exposure to fungal spores at the Monitor Sugar Company (SIC-2063) in Bay City, Michigan. The Michigan SENSOR program reported that three workers at the company had developed asthma like symptoms and that one tested positive for allergic reactions to moldy beet sugar pulp. An in depth survey of employee exposure to microorganisms was conducted during the sugar production campaign and during the cleanup/maintenance phase. The bioaerosol evaluation included 70 personal and area samples which indicated the presence of multiple species of fungi. The pellet silo and the pellet loading operations were areas of high exposure to airborne microorganisms. Pellet loaders had the highest average personal exposure to fungal spores, 30,000 colony forming units/cubic meter (CFU/m3). The lowest average exposure was found in beet loaders 2,200CFU/m3. The spore concentration was 69,000CFU/m3 in the pellet conveyor area. The authors recommend measures to improve the storage of the pellets and reduce the growth of microorganisms, and also installation of ventilated loading spouts to contain dust generated during loading.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Chemistry Chromatography Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-contamination Control-technology Field-Study Food-processing-industry Food-processing-workers NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Occupational-exposure Region-5
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB17118
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Control Technology ; Field Studies ; Control Technology
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering ; DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-44
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00209045
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, ECTB 171-18, 1992 Jun; :1-44
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  2063 - Beet sugar - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ffa0cb80c9401eac524f1198ad9235ebacceb7ed47c7414ead7f9ee766d76bf54939f0ca2da414b6359b2139d266c8797fee77dfa94d970f355607c63b2eff98
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180767/cdc_180767_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.46 MB ]