Silo-Filler’s Disease in Rural New York

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  May, J. J. ; Pratt, D. S. ; Rothenberg, R.
• Description:
  On September 18, 1981, at a farm in Mohawk, New York, a 39-year-old farmhand was overcome while climbing up the chute of a recently filled concrete stave silo and later died of presumed silo-filler's disease. The case report follows. In the preceding 10 days, the farm owner had filled this silo with Sudex grass and chopped corn silage. On September 18, he asked a farmhand to climb up the unloading chute inside the silo and toss out fresh silage. When the farmhand climbed the chute, he became short of breath and confused and had to descend. He made a second attempt but again had to climb down and was noted to be cyanotic, pale, and diaphoretic. ... The case outlined is typical for massive exposure to nitrogen oxides. Silo-filler's disease represents an occupational hazard associated with ensiled crops. Laboratory studies have shown that toxic levels of NO, NO2, and N2O4 are regularly produced in silos. Because these oxides are dense, they tend to settle in the chute and around the base of the silo, and exposure often occurs without anyone's entering the silo. ... It is possible to prevent this type of exposure in the farm industry if farmers are aware of the following dangers and use the suggested safety measures. 1) Silos begin to produce NO2 within 4 hours after filling, and no one should enter or come in close contact with a recently filled silo. 2) Some crops (oats, corn) produce more NO2 than others, and heavily fertilized crops, cloudy conditions, and rain raise the risk of NO2 production. 3) Although NO2 levels are generally low and within a safe range after 2 weeks, dangerous amounts may remain for months if the silo has not been opened. 4) If possible, enclosed areas should be ventilated for 20 minutes before anyone enters, and individuals should be equipped with a full-face mask and an air supply. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Air Pollutants, Occupational Confined Spaces Farmers Hazardous Substances Lung Lung Diseases Mortality Nitric Oxide Nitrogen Dioxide Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Ventilation

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• Keywords:
  Agricultural Industry Agricultural Processes Agricultural Workers Case Reports Confined Spaces Exposure Assessment Farm Workers Fatalities Inhalation Lung Cells Lung Disease Mortality Studies Nitric Oxide Nitrogen Compounds Nitrogen Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Pulmonary System Disorders Respiratory System Disorders Silos Toxic Dose Toxic Gases

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• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  31
• Issue:
  28
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056080
• Citation:
  MMWR 1982 Jul; 31(28):389-391
• CAS Registry Number:
  Nitric oxide (CAS RN 10102-43-9) ; Nitrogen dioxide (CAS RN 10102-44-0) ; Nitrogen oxide (N2O4) (CAS RN 10544-72-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:21f5d7723d9ffd8e24c7c2dbd604ea6f3e6950458cc899f2cf122093eacd94647edad8460b74095347bad5de3c22f557ddfb697c85eed7edc61bb9e58e66ea33
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183298/cdc_183298_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 367.63 KB ]