Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies
A large amount of mixed dust exists in grain, which can easily stimulate the respiratory system and cause diseases. This study explored contamination levels and health effects of this grain dust. A total of 616 dust samples from different stages and types of grain were collected in China—in Hefei (A...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-08-01
|
| Series: | Atmosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/8/1025 |
| _version_ | 1797524636752150528 |
|---|---|
| author | Pengcheng Cui Tao Zhang Xin Chen Xiaoyi Yang |
| author_facet | Pengcheng Cui Tao Zhang Xin Chen Xiaoyi Yang |
| author_sort | Pengcheng Cui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A large amount of mixed dust exists in grain, which can easily stimulate the respiratory system and cause diseases. This study explored contamination levels and health effects of this grain dust. A total of 616 dust samples from different stages and types of grain were collected in China—in Hefei (Anhui), Shenzhen (Guangdong), Chengdu (Sichuan), Changchun (Jilin), and Shunyi (Beijing)—and analyzed using the filter membrane method and a laser particle size analyzer. A probabilistic risk assessment model was developed to explore the health effects of grain dust on workers in the grain storage industry based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment model and the Monte Carlo simulation method. Sensitivity analysis methods were used to analyze the various exposure parameters and influencing factors that affect the health risk assessment results. This assessment model was applied to translate health risks into disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The results revealed that the concentration of dust ranged from 25 to 70 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, which followed normal distribution and the proportion of dust with a particle size of less than 10 μm exceeded 10%. Workers in the transporting stage were exposed to the largest health risk, which followed a lognormal distribution. The average health risks for workers in the entering and exiting zones were slightly below 2.5 × 10<sup>−5</sup>. The sensitivity analysis indicated that average time, exposure duration, inhalation rate, and dust concentration made great contributions to dust health risk. Workers in the grain storage and transportation stage had the health damage, and the average DALY exceeded 0.4 years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:00:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55a8b813c04049028f6b78e8a48f4831 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:00:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-55a8b813c04049028f6b78e8a48f48312023-11-22T06:47:56ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-08-01128102510.3390/atmos12081025Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage CompaniesPengcheng Cui0Tao Zhang1Xin Chen2Xiaoyi Yang3Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, ChinaAcademy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, ChinaAcademy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, ChinaSchool of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaA large amount of mixed dust exists in grain, which can easily stimulate the respiratory system and cause diseases. This study explored contamination levels and health effects of this grain dust. A total of 616 dust samples from different stages and types of grain were collected in China—in Hefei (Anhui), Shenzhen (Guangdong), Chengdu (Sichuan), Changchun (Jilin), and Shunyi (Beijing)—and analyzed using the filter membrane method and a laser particle size analyzer. A probabilistic risk assessment model was developed to explore the health effects of grain dust on workers in the grain storage industry based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment model and the Monte Carlo simulation method. Sensitivity analysis methods were used to analyze the various exposure parameters and influencing factors that affect the health risk assessment results. This assessment model was applied to translate health risks into disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The results revealed that the concentration of dust ranged from 25 to 70 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, which followed normal distribution and the proportion of dust with a particle size of less than 10 μm exceeded 10%. Workers in the transporting stage were exposed to the largest health risk, which followed a lognormal distribution. The average health risks for workers in the entering and exiting zones were slightly below 2.5 × 10<sup>−5</sup>. The sensitivity analysis indicated that average time, exposure duration, inhalation rate, and dust concentration made great contributions to dust health risk. Workers in the grain storage and transportation stage had the health damage, and the average DALY exceeded 0.4 years.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/8/1025grain dusthealth risk assessmentMonte Carlo simulationdisability adjusted life year |
| spellingShingle | Pengcheng Cui Tao Zhang Xin Chen Xiaoyi Yang Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies Atmosphere grain dust health risk assessment Monte Carlo simulation disability adjusted life year |
| title | Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies |
| title_full | Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies |
| title_fullStr | Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies |
| title_short | Levels, Sources, and Health Damage of Dust in Grain Transportation and Storage: A Case Study of Chinese Grain Storage Companies |
| title_sort | levels sources and health damage of dust in grain transportation and storage a case study of chinese grain storage companies |
| topic | grain dust health risk assessment Monte Carlo simulation disability adjusted life year |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/8/1025 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pengchengcui levelssourcesandhealthdamageofdustingraintransportationandstorageacasestudyofchinesegrainstoragecompanies AT taozhang levelssourcesandhealthdamageofdustingraintransportationandstorageacasestudyofchinesegrainstoragecompanies AT xinchen levelssourcesandhealthdamageofdustingraintransportationandstorageacasestudyofchinesegrainstoragecompanies AT xiaoyiyang levelssourcesandhealthdamageofdustingraintransportationandstorageacasestudyofchinesegrainstoragecompanies |