Exposure assessment of smoke and biogenic silica fibers during sugar cane harvesting in Hawaii

Details

• Personal Author:
  Boeniger, Mark F. ; Fernback, Joseph E. ; Hartle, Richard W. ; Hawkins M ; Sinks T
• Description:
  A study of occupational exposures occurring during sugar cane burning and harvesting was conducted. Environmental and breathing zone samples were collected during cane burning and harvesting operations at a field on the lower slopes of Haleakala Crater, Maui, Hawaii and analyzed for total dust, inorganic fibers, aluminum (7429905), iron (7439896), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon-monoxide (630080), and organic carbon. Soil samples were analyzed for their mineral content. Breathing zone samples were collected at a nearby sugar mill and analyzed for total dust and biogenic silica (7631869) fibers. Bulk leaf samples were analyzed for inorganic fibers. Airborne particulate concentrations near the burning field were 20 to 70 times higher than those measured in areas remote from burning. Organic carbon was found in all smoke samples. Aluminum and iron were found in most smoke samples. The ratio of aluminum to iron in the smoke samples matched that of the soil samples. Organic carbon, aluminum, and iron were not detected in air samples remote from burning. No PAHs were detected. Low concentrations of airborne inorganic fibers were found in less than half of the samples. Maximum carbon-monoxide concentrations were only 5 parts per million. Total airborne particulate concentrations measured during harvesting ranged from 0.2 to 3.4mg/m3. Amorphous silica fibers at concentrations ranging up to 56000 fibers per cubic meter were detected. Most fibers had diameters of 0.5 to 2.0 microns and lengths of 10 to 40 microns. Airborne particulate concentrations at the sugar mill ranged from 0.1 to 2.1mg/m3. Fiber concentrations ranged up to 8350mg/m3. The fibers appeared to be silica. Bulk dry cane leaf samples contained about 10 million fibers per gram. The fibers appeared to be silica and most had diameters of 0.25 to 1.0 micron and lengths of 2.5 to 15 microns. The authors conclude that sampling for organic carbon, iron, and aluminum appears to be the best method for characterizing smoke from sugar cane fires. The health effects resulting from biogenic silica fibers are unknown and should be investigated. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Chemistry Dust Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Products Agricultural Workers Chemical Analysis Combustion Products Fibrous Dusts NIOSH Author Occupational Exposure Plant Substances Silica Dusts
• ISSN:
  1047-322X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  59-66
• Volume:
  6
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00197834
• Citation:
  Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1991 Jan; 6(1):59-66
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
• CAS Registry Number:
  Aluminum (CAS RN 7429-90-5) ; Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0) ; Iron (CAS RN 7439-89-6) ; Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1991
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:14f7520b79f27cdba30236869196a96305afd7823c860267db524ce874c1f9e6da50a59aff2630e9a7f8b144a61b9aeb90050e8457c630e9b32bcd6bb794010b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204730/cdc_204730_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.50 MB ]