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Dissertation of Yang Geng.pdf (2.98 MB)

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Developing a Grain Dust Simulator to Evaluate Farmers' Potential Exposure to Respirable Dust in On-Farm Grain Storage Bins and Protection Factors of Commonly

GENG, YANG, GENG
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1626966121925321

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Background Information Grain dust is a main respiratory hazard on farms. Organic grain dust consists of small grain particles, insect parts, silica, bacteria, fungi, and mycotoxins. The size of these airborne particulates is a critical factor that determines if the particles can deeply penetrate into the human respiratory system. Exposure to grain dust can diminish overall lung function and cause respiratory diseases such as, asthma, organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS), chronic bronchitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (Farmer’s Lung). On the farm, grain storage and handling facilities are primary locations for workers to have high levels of grain dust exposure. This is especially true when the bins are being unloaded and cleaned. It is challenging and complex to conduct grain dust research in real-time environments on the farm. Previous studies have shown the benefits of using simulators in a laboratory setting to study interactions of aerodynamic environments with many affecting factors for optimization of designs and operations of various engineering devices. Therefore, this PhD research focused on designing a Grain Dust Simulator (GDS) to understand farmers’ potential exposure to respirable dust and evaluate respiratory protection factors against workers’ real-time exposures. The research was conducted in two parts. Phase one involved field work for collecting on-farm dust samples, taking real-time measurements of total and respirable dust concentration levels, and observing farm work practices while grain bins were unloaded and cleaned. Phase two was conducted in the lab to first design and establish a Grain Dust Simulator that could simulate the environmental conditions found in phase one; then continue to evaluate various factors affecting the dusty environment in grain bins. Phase two also involved measurements of the efficiency of commonly used respirators worn by farmers at their grain storage facilities. Methods and Results Dust concentration data were collected on commercial grain farms while farmers worked to unload and clean their grain bins. Both gravimetrical dust sampling and electronic dust concentration measurements using a DustTrak were conducted at 11 grain storage bins. During the sampling and data collection, both RESP (respirable dust) and TSP (total suspended particles) concentrations were measured. Farmers’ working behaviors were also observed and recorded. The sampling results showed that the RESP concentrations in corn storage bins ranged from 4.1 to 6.6 mg/m3, and the TSP concentrations 33 to 70.7 mg/m3. The RESP concentrations in soybean bins ranged from 1.6 to 82.3 mg/m3, and the TSP 8.9 to 146.8 mg/m3. Eight-hour Time Weighted Averages (TWA) were calculated, with 18.2% RESP concentrations being higher than the ACGIH recommended 8-hr TWA RESP concentration limit of 3 mg/m3, and 18.2% of TSP concentrations being higher than the ACGIH TSP concentration recommendation of 10 mg/m3. A Grain Dust Simulator (GDS) was developed and built to simulate the dusty environments of on-farm grain bins in a laboratory setting. The GDS can manipulate environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) in a controlled setting, as well as test certain variables of different types of stored grains (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc.). The GDS also contains ventilation and auger systems comparable to on-farm grain bins. The GDS was designed to generate respirable dust environment from 5 mg/m3 to 20 mg/m3, and the simulated dust data had no statistically significant difference to the data collected at the on-farm grain storage sites. A statistical model was developed to mathematically describe the relationship between environmental conditions, operation variables, and the dusty environment in grain bins. It was found that the auger system had a positive effect (i.e. increases the dust concentration) on the respirable dust concentration in GDS, and the air flow rate provided from the ventilation system gave a negative effect (i.e. decreases the dust concentration) on the respirable dust concentration. Air temperature (in the range 22℃ to 31℃) and relative humidity (43% to 87%) did not have a significant effect on the respirable dust concentration in the range of 5 mg/m3 to 20 mg/m3. A manikin system was added to the GDS to simulate a worker’s potential exposure while performing maintenance and cleaning tasks inside grain bins. Four different types of respiratory protection devices (RPDs) under four respirable dust concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 mg/m3) and two inhalation flow rates (30 L/min, 85 L/min) were tested. The results show that the NIOSH approved air-purification respirators, like P100 elastomeric respirator and N95 filtering facepiece respirator, provide expected protection for farmers when they work at their grain storage and handling facilities (if maximum use times are not exceeded). Conclusions The research documents Ohio farmers’ high potential exposure level to grain dust when cleaning and unloading activities occur at on-farm grain bins. For corn and soybeans, the concentrations of both RESP and TSP were very high. Farmers underestimate the health hazards of grain dust and its effects on the respiratory system; many of the farmer participants were observed not wearing respirators while performing their work at the grain bins. The lab work showed that the novelty and utility of a GDS and manikin system provides a promising testing platform for future research. A successful simulator can advance agricultural health research where variables can be controlled based on real-time factors; and the efficiency of various respiratory protection devices can be tested in these environments. Overall, the findings of this research can advance both engineering controls and educational programs for on-farm grain storage facilities. Ultimately, the farmers will benefit from this information to have a better understanding of the grain dust hazards while they are working in the grain bins, as well as an understanding about the factors that affect the grain dust concentrations inside the bins. The findings can also help farmers choose the right respirators to protect themselves, thereby improving their quality of life.
Shelly Dee Jepsen (Advisor)
Lingying Zhao (Committee Member)
Alfred B. O. Soboyejo (Committee Member)
Michael Bisesi (Committee Member)
Tiina Reponen (Committee Member)
157 p.
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Safety and Health; Environment Simulation; Grain Bins; Grain Dust; Respirators;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • GENG, GENG, Y. (2021). Developing a Grain Dust Simulator to Evaluate Farmers' Potential Exposure to Respirable Dust in On-Farm Grain Storage Bins and Protection Factors of Commonly [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1626966121925321

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • GENG, GENG, YANG. Developing a Grain Dust Simulator to Evaluate Farmers' Potential Exposure to Respirable Dust in On-Farm Grain Storage Bins and Protection Factors of Commonly . 2021. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1626966121925321.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • GENG, GENG, YANG. "Developing a Grain Dust Simulator to Evaluate Farmers' Potential Exposure to Respirable Dust in On-Farm Grain Storage Bins and Protection Factors of Commonly ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1626966121925321

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.